Outside agencies seek Perry County funding as council opens 2026 budget hearing

Dozens of outside agencies presented their 2026 funding requests to the Perry County Council during a public hearing opened after the council approved a set of supplemental appropriations.

Key requests and presentations

- Ride Solutions: Becky Guthrie, introduced herself as “Becky Guthrie. I'm the director of Ride Solution.” She told the council Ride Solutions is a public transportation provider in the region funded through the Federal Transit Administration and the Indiana Department of Transportation but that local matching contributions are required for the counties it serves. Guthrie said a missed county contribution in a prior year resulted in Ride Solutions arranging alternate funding and temporary support from the city; she asked the county to restore an appropriation in 2026 so the service can continue serving Perry County residents, especially workers and people who rely on nonemergency trips. Guthrie described the fare structure (for example, $2 per one-way local trip and $6 for county-to-county trips) and stressed the role transit can play in employer access to labor.

- Animal control / Animal Welfare Board: Robert Faust and other board members presented a budget document the board submitted and discussed a request that the board described as totaling $30,000 (composed of an ongoing $5,000 community-services line and a larger request for animal-control staffing). Faust described an operational gap: the shelter and volunteers have absorbed many animal calls, while the county lacks a dedicated animal control officer. Board representatives said Perry County averages about two animal-related calls per day and described recent incidents (a cyclist attacked by dogs; a child nearly attacked) and public-health concerns tied to unmanaged stray animals. They said a part-time animal control officer attached to the sheriff’s office, paid training available through state courses, and access to a vehicle through the sheriff’s department would address the gap. During discussion, council members and presenters differed about exact dollar figures in the submitted paperwork; the board emphasized the request was to create a funded part-time animal control position and to preserve the $5,000 annual community assistance line for spay/neuter and euthanasia support.

- River's Edge Animal Shelter: Molly, identified as the shelter’s founder and president, reviewed the shelter’s operations and the shelter’s use of a restricted fund tied to building lease revenue. She said the shelter is operating at or near capacity, that recent months have seen increased dumping of litters and multiple-dog intakes, and that the shelter now provides a range of community services to keep animals with owners (food, vaccine assistance, low-cost spay/neuter clinics). Molly said Tel City and other municipalities’ contributions vary and reported Tel City had approved a lower contribution than requested. The shelter requested county support and also asked the council to consider grant and regional supports for expanded spay/neuter clinic capacity.

- Perry County Council on Aging: Jesse Watkins, executive director, said the Council on Aging provides nonemergency medical transportation (dialysis, chemo, life-sustaining treatments) and operates a senior center with wide participation. Watkins said the agency made 4,269 one-way trips last year and had carried 233 clients in the transportation program; year-to-date figures were also cited. Watkins noted a fleet-recall issue that is affecting several local providers and asked the council to continue funding the Council on Aging’s operations in 2026, saying the service prevents missed medical care and supports independent living.

- Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission: Nathan Hill asked the council to approve a per-capita fee of $0.65 (totaling $12,460.50 for Perry County) that supports regional planning activities, matching Economic Development Administration (EDA) and INDOT planning grants. He reported ongoing work on water improvements, Troy Township water needs, cleanup of a clearance site, port rail and pier projects, and other planning support the commission provides to the county.

- Perry County Fairgrounds: Chris Temple (president of the fairgrounds board) requested $15,000 consistent with prior years to maintain the fairgrounds property and support events. Temple described an expanding livestock program, a new 15-acre property purchase, fundraising to develop parking and multipurpose spaces, and the fairgrounds’ role as a free facility for 4‑H and other local nonprofits.

- Perry County 4‑H Council: Payne Hilgenhold, council president, outlined a slate of youth programs and travel assistance. She said the 4‑H council subsidizes trip costs (limiting family fees to about $20 per youth for many trips), supports 256 participants (grades K–12, including minis), funds project books, trophies and “Fairbucks” for exhibitors, and pays for counselor/chaperone costs for camps. A youth speaker, Wyatt Harris, described how 4‑H helped him gain leadership experience and attend statewide opportunities.

- SIRS (services for people with developmental disabilities): Melissa Sharp (COO, incoming CEO) presented a request for $45,000. She described SIRS’ Perry County operations, the Link-and-Go transportation program (about 780 trips a year in county), employment services, first-steps services for children, day programs and a local payroll footprint. She provided a breakdown of the proposed spending (wages, community integration, transportation and administrative support) and said the agency’s work reduces waiting lists and increases employment outcomes for county residents with disabilities.

- CVB (Conventions & Visitors Bureau): Commissioners received a detailed draft CVB budget. The CVB commission chair described a plan to increase digital marketing, build a new website, produce a brochure, invest in hospitality outreach to cabin owners and hoteliers, and purchase exhibit materials to promote the county at shows. The commission reported projected gross innkeeper-tax revenue at about $173,700 with a plan to draw $20,000 from savings to fund the proposed programmatic expansion.

What the council recorded

Council members did not take votes on the outside-agency requests during the public hearing; presentations were recorded for the public record and will be considered during the county’s budget work sessions. Staff and presenters repeatedly noted that some requests were documented in materials submitted to the auditor and that dollar figures on some forms differed from amounts spoken aloud; presenters and council members asked staff to reconcile submitted documents.

Asked and answered

During several presentations, council members asked presenters to provide additional paperwork or clarifications (for example, the animal-welfare board was asked to provide its final roster so the council can approve a full seven-member board; agencies were asked to confirm amounts and provide written budgets to the auditor). Nathan Hill (Indiana 15) was asked to accept a late update to the county’s list of grant needs for EDA submission.

Next steps

The council scheduled multiple budget work sessions beginning in September (8 a.m., at the Armory on the dates announced in the meeting) and a regular meeting on Sept. 25, when final budget actions and amendments are expected. Presenters were told to submit clarifying materials and budget details to the auditor ahead of those sessions so the council can consider appropriation levels and levy adjustments.