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Elkhart County Council approves multiple appropriations, reappoints library member and adopts 2026 budget
Summary
At its Oct. 16 meeting the Elkhart County Council approved a package of appropriations for courthouse work, accounting reconciliation, bridges and software, reappointed a library board member, approved a local TIF agreement and adopted the county's 2026 budget and salary ordinance.
The Elkhart County Council on Oct. 16 approved a series of additional appropriations and financial actions, including funds for Goshen Courthouse renovations, an independent accounting engagement to reconcile prior treasurer accounts, multiple bridge replacements and permitting software, and it adopted the countys 2026 budget and salary ordinance.
Council actions included a reappointment to the Nappanee Public Library Board, formal rescission of an internal resolution related to library-board appointments, approval of a local interlocal agreement with the town of Middlebury for TIF-funded utilities, and several requests from the highway and planning departments for bridge, equipment and software spending.
The meeting front-loaded the most time-sensitive items: county administrator Jeff Taylor described the Goshen Courthouse interior work and asked the council to appropriate $200,000 from the general fund to continue interior restoration and related work. Taylor said crews are restoring original hardwood floors and coordinating with the city of Goshen on city-occupied spaces; the council approved the $200,000 appropriation 6-0.
The council also approved a $175,000 appropriation to pay Baker Tilly to reconcile county bank accounts through Dec. 31, 2024 and to recommend improved monthly procedures for the treasurers office. Taylor and other speakers said the independent work is intended to bring the books to a materially reconciled state for the State Board of Accounts, not to pursue costly penny-level reconciliations. The motion passed 6-0.
Planning and development asked for $265,430 from the general fund to implement a new permitting product through OpenGov (staff said it would replace the countys EnerGov permitting product and cover implementation and the first-year software fee). The council approved the request 6-0.
Highway department requests for bridge projects and equipment were approved across several funds. The council approved the…
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