[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6473857,"mediaKeyId","5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7","parentId",5743369,"title","Commissioners weigh using criminal-justice and special-purpose funds to cover jail, courthouse and capital costs","audioSeconds",376,"startMs",2254000,"endMs",2630000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7&start=2254&end=2630","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7/thumbnail_2254000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473857/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Commissioners-weigh-using-criminal-justice-and-special-purpose-funds-to-cover-jail-courthouse-and-capital-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473857-16764af9ac9a5b7b57f44c33b1e4c775/orig.mp4?Expires=1775212224&Signature=ShmlLh3iKltwlotRHkAVtFCN1d6lEraa51lXdWVTA2NCdRTQmpgu216gxvKf8oPrXGACS2BmggCY5sUL~Sk94KLbYM6gD7lrxhq5aGXCLTpqVgj0uAswtCHFzVDxPW-Bl~Mw4GWZynyETLpR3CqpdMOb4TFw3oYh7v4ljVuCHvjZBiPvHY0RM-bMt2idmYeSN3No2xD~mpL~5eFTiygcyVpCxiu3FflDNQLz1T~BwRT0vMX9H6XyvYwY75WNlgt57V4A~7lJET-R3MgON8-52TrE0IPxaI5bJ1ilyBOKKiVkKuoAE0pfOcbhCyx5pdqKzcN0aQKmxp7r6tVoh-~kKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elkhart County","date","2025-09-09T17:06:32Z","article","Elkhart County commissioners reviewed the balances and allowable uses of special-purpose funds and discussed shifting some courthouse and corrections costs away from the general levy.

During the session staff noted a balance described in the record as approximately $25,273,463.82 in a special-purpose account (referred to in the meeting as a \"special purpose\" or jail-related balance) and described an active criminal-justice quarter-percent local income tax that has produced an excess balance in recent years. Staff said the quarter-percent criminal-justice revenue was created in the early 2000s and that the statute language allows Elkhart County to use that revenue for criminal-justice facilities and related items while the bonds are outstanding.

Commissioners discussed concrete examples: county staff confirmed a boiler repair at the jail was funded in part from the jail fund and in part from capital funds; radios for emergency management were discussed as a capital purchase that staff hoped would be largely grant-funded but that the budget had a placeholder in case grants did not materialize. Commissioners said where equipment and facility items are legitimately tied to criminal-justice operations (for example, locks, radios and some corrections equipment), it may be appropriate and lawful to charge them to the criminal-justice fund rather than the general levy, subject to the fund’s statutory limitations.

Commissioners also discussed courthouse bond payments, the required reserve that holds roughly one year’s bond payment, and timing of when bond obligations (for jail and courthouse) decline. Some commissioners urged caution about drawing down capital funds that may be needed for building retrofit costs tied to consolidations or courthouse renovations.

The board directed staff to provide legal clarifications about allowable uses for each special-purpose fund and a schedule showing which capital or equipment items could legally be charged to those funds. Staff also agreed to give a breakdown of the specific fund balances and the amount already committed in next meeting materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elkhart County Live Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners reviewed balances in special-purpose criminal-justice funds and a roughly $25 million special-purpose balance, discussed legal limits on moving funds, and considered using fund balances for jail repairs, radios and other equipment to reduce burden on the levy.","taxTitle","Elkhart County, Indiana","taxId",5801,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6473861,"Commissioners zero in on personnel lines and vacant positions amid budget squeeze",316,898000,1214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7&start=898&end=1214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7/thumbnail_898000.jpg","/articles/6473861/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Commissioners-zero-in-on-personnel-lines-and-vacant-positions-amid-budget-squeeze","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473861-68069601327ae3e5fb4c12b13661d656/orig.mp4?Expires=1775212224&Signature=cuhkEsuQNpOpii-vmSnpuqVC-X63P~5c8fREw6y7hHopUkxQaDAVKz1brBKgqrzIPj~QB8xhDqQekzGUUqcOP95Fe8wmjNHiANtqriE4owVdIHeYwFsdy54q9yfxHSZhRjbH3A0fwuaSV8Zepx1~rHcOct04WFzhDDFZBFWcjva4AIpMpTUi8izt1mrFTkgv~kc6W83XLYxOmfukTfiB3bTkDQZCcuJ8lylzAhEVTY-fQ4p~0IBxKKMXjMZl1dNFEguoHtfvjjxF2tsbKe7PbKQZUTZe9bzF-NIiWG0GxHvDfmGzJbhqbXI5UHDjzhl-U0KsxssVCWqLfIBtspn3Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners spent substantial time in the budget work session examining personnel requests, vacant positions and the longer-term cost implications of hiring. County staff said general-fund requests for new positions and reclassifications total about $2,100,000; commissioners described personnel as the \"elephant in the room\" for closing the expected levy shortfall.

Participants discussed several options: (1) deny or delay the requested new positions, (2) eliminate vacant positions so they do not reappear automatically on next year's roster, and (3) move staff costs for corrections- or courthouse-related employees into special-purpose funds when legally permissible. Staff clarified that eliminating a position removes it from next year’s roster, while unfunded positions remain listed and could reappear if subsequently funded.

Commissioners asked department leaders to identify positions they do not plan to fill and questioned why some offices maintain multiple supervisory/deputy roles. Examples flagged in the discussion included the clerk's office and court staffing after consolidation in the new justice center; commissioners suggested the planned consolidation could yield personnel savings as supervisor roles are combined. The voter-registration office prompted particular scrutiny: commissioners questioned the need for three voter-registration staff given alternate registration options and asked staff to bring the clerk or elections administrator back with detail.

Specific departments mentioned during the session included the health department (program-by-program review proposed), emergency management (questions about deputy salaries and whether sheriff's office could assume functions), community corrections (budget increases flagged for clarification), and the treasurer's office (noted year-over-year jump). Commissioners asked to audit where requested positions are funded and whether some positions could be recharged to special funds tied to criminal justice or jail operations.

No formal personnel actions were taken at the session. Commissioners directed staff to return with line-by-line personnel funding sources, vacancy histories and legal limits on moving positions to other funds.","Elkhart County officials reviewed dozens of staffing requests and vacant positions, discussing a hiring freeze, elimination of vacant roles and moving some positions into non-levy funds as ways to reduce levy pressure.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6473866,"Elkhart County commissioners confront $12 million levy shortfall; discuss cuts, reserves and fund shifts",35,435000,470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7&start=435&end=470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5743369-76b8aa7b34afdb7e85f0ab55b14e78d7/thumbnail_435000.jpg","/articles/6473866/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Elkhart-County-commissioners-confront-12-million-levy-shortfall-discuss-cuts-reserves-and-fund-shifts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473866-d878e51ba3784f7c6897e4df7e8a2a49/orig.mp4?Expires=1775212224&Signature=YbDaxY~sTKue9GdiiObTX3r3PBkj09XNz5NPmuK9MN~0QA1HstXOGD9Nc6eleOd5NLUuUkUR4eecuNR99s7eJ1d~3eMK1DqxxgWXysCrTG~fzWxRf38pW9Y7uRM2ibP7GHuDAg~~TpmIaKO23ySX7BpE11G43L6CHpgrG66jrXMTxitPRDwG7yDrBIM-pnQRhiT39oYu7nXzUd27Q4WiDSfHor9rph5kWVoYWI0am6PXZ9lBO6PvjgamIkQe2UB3tI2IuLRJrt8mperGB626AE5m5ttWuFCHnExcIetBXOPH2Xp9d4~CObezBrYz2~ajRkBjMLfdiDMYs5DgAql1Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart County commissioners met in an afternoon budget work session to discuss what county staff described as an estimated $12,000,000 shortfall in levy-funded budgets for 2026 and options to close the gap.

County staff told commissioners the shortfall is \"about $12,000,000 over the levy,\" a figure that the group treated as the working deficit to address for the coming year. The discussion centered on three broad approaches: targeted cuts to discretionary spending, holding or eliminating proposed new personnel, and temporarily using cash balances or non-levy funds to smooth the budget.

The commissioners and staff discussed trimming memberships and subscriptions (including national associations), reducing some commissioner line items, and scrutinizing transfers between categories. Commissioners noted that some savings can be found in small recurring cuts but said personnel costs represent the largest single potential savings. County staff estimated new positions and reclassifications in the general fund total about $2,100,000.

Commissioners also discussed using available fund balances and tapping specific revenue streams. County staff pointed to a sizeable balance in a special-purpose criminal-justice fund (discussed in the meeting as a quarter-percent criminal justice local income tax) and to other cash balances as potential candidates for paying county corrections or criminal-justice expenses rather than charging them to the general levy. Commissioners also discussed the normal year-end underspending that typically returns 2 to $4 million to the general fund and the possibility of using some reserves while cautioning against eroding long-term reserve levels.

On investment income and miscellaneous revenues, the treasurer's office and finance staff said conservative estimates were used but that investment interest remains a possible one-time source of revenue, depending on market conditions. Staff said they will provide a detailed miscellaneous revenue schedule and updated cash-balance tables at the next meeting.

The board did not adopt a final set of cuts at the session. Commissioners directed staff to return with more detail on specific personnel requests, fund balances, and clarifications about which costs can legally be moved into special-purpose funds. The work session was adjourned with a routine voice vote.","County leaders at an afternoon 2026 budget hearing said the county faces an estimated $12 million shortfall in levy-funded budgets and discussed cutting memberships, pausing new hires and tapping special funds and cash balances to close the gap.","actionData","errors"]

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Commissioners weigh using criminal-justice and special-purpose funds to cover jail, courthouse and capital costs

Commissioners zero in on personnel lines and vacant positions amid budget squeeze

Elkhart County commissioners confront $12 million levy shortfall; discuss cuts, reserves and fund shifts