St. Joseph County commissioners approve three council-sent ordinances, including funding for school attendance officers

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. — The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 19 approved three ordinances sent to the board by the County Council, including an appropriation to pay salaries and expenses for public school attendance officers under Indiana Code 20-33-2-31.

The measures were approved after the commissioners considered each ordinance individually because one had a split vote at the County Council. Two of the ordinances were passed unanimously by the council; the third was approved by a 7-2 County Council vote, the board noted.

Ordinance 49-25 (referred to in the meeting as affecting the prosecutor’s high-tech crime unit) was presented first. With no questions from the commissioners, the board voted to approve the ordinance. Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Hazen and the third commissioner on the dais each voted “aye,” and the motion carried.

Ordinance 50-25, described by the commissioners as a follow-up ordinance that included appropriations linked to the prosecutor’s high-tech crime unit, the Family Recovery Court grant, and a sheriff’s vehicle-maintenance item, was also approved after the commissioners offered no questions. The County Council had approved that ordinance 9-0.

The final ordinance discussed, 51-25, had been approved by the County Council on a 7-2 vote and would appropriate funds to pay salaries and expenses for public school attendance officers under Indiana Code 20-33-2-31 from the county general fund. During the board’s discussion, the third commissioner said the board’s understanding was that the school-attendance-officer requirement stems from a state mandate and observed that it is an "unfunded state mandate." After a motion and second, the commissioners voted to approve ordinance 51-25; the recorded votes were “aye” by Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Hazen and the third commissioner, and the motion carried.

The board also approved the accounts payable docket at the start of the meeting by unanimous vote.

The board recessed after completing the agenda and opening the meeting for public comment. No additional formal actions were taken at this meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Accounts payable docket: approved (unanimous) - Ordinance 49-25 (prosecutor high‑tech crime unit fund): approved by the commissioners (motion carried) - Ordinance 50-25 (follow-up appropriations: prosecutor high‑tech crime unit, Family Recovery Court grant, sheriff vehicle maintenance): approved by the commissioners; County Council vote noted as 9-0 - Ordinance 51-25 (appropriation for public school attendance officers under IC 20-33-2-31; payment from general fund): approved by the commissioners; County Council vote noted as 7-2

(The County Council vote tallies above were reported to the commissioners during the meeting.)