Council approves personnel requests, appropriations and $1.89 million in budget cuts

The Vandenburgh County Council on an otherwise routine meeting approved a package of personnel actions, appropriations and transfers and passed a set of budget cuts the council says will help offset an estimated loss tied to recent state legislative tax changes.

The measures included creation and filling of several county positions, grant-funded internships for the prosecutor’s office, appropriations for sheriff programs and a $30,000 appropriation to plant 307 trees across county parks. The council also adopted proposed budget cuts totaling $1,887,003.73 and entered the cut list into the record for the budget adoption later in October.

Council President James called for motions on a series of consent and budget items; each measure was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. County staff and outside presenters who appeared to request or explain the items included Chief Deputy Prosecutor Winston Lin, Jean Carlson of the Solid Waste District, Nate Hahn of the Evansville Regional Airport and Patrick Hickey of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (EREP).

Key votes at the meeting included: - Approval of previous meeting minutes and two budget hearing minutes: motion carried by voice vote. - Personnel requests: the council approved a slate of personnel requests from multiple offices, including Superior and Circuit Courts and the assessor’s office. (Motion carried; vote not roll‑called in the transcript.) - Creation and subsequent approval to fill a Community Corrections full‑time residential litter‑cleanup officer position; funding was described as joint (solid waste + work release user fees). (Motion carried.) - Prosecutor’s Office: approval to fill two paid student intern positions for the high‑tech/cell‑phone forensics lab; staff said the program is supported by a $350,000 federal grant. (Motion carried.) - Health Department: the council set in multiple new positions supported by a new TANF grant to expand the Pre‑K/3 program; staff described an incremental $2,000,000 in funding for the next year tied to the grant. (Motion carried.) - Sheriff’s appropriations: the council approved accrued payments and contracted services funding, and accepted a restricted opioid donation to support mental‑health and peer‑support units in the jail. (Motion carried.) - Solid Waste District: a $30,000 special appropriation to plant 307 trees on public property across the county and an addition of a recurring $30,000 contractual services line into the district’s 2026 budget. (Motion carried.) - Transfers and repeals: the council approved a list of year‑end transfers and repeals as presented. (Motion carried.) - Budget cuts: the council voted to set specific cuts across funds totaling $1,887,003.73 and asked that the item be entered into the minutes for the October 8 budget adoption. (Motion carried.)

The meeting record shows voice votes with unanimous “aye” outcomes; roll call later confirmed seven members present when the budget vote was taken. Several presenters noted the council could revisit appropriations or make further changes before final budget adoption on Oct. 8.

The council did not conduct a roll‑call vote on the majority of items in the transcript; outcomes were recorded in the minutes as approved by voice vote.

Ending: The council recessed to continue the budget process and scheduled the budget adoption for Oct. 8, with a public hearing on the Solid Waste District budget also noted for that date.