Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
LaPorte County approves most departmental 'twos and threes' budgets; several items tabled
Summary
The LaPorte County council approved multiple departments' 'twos and threes' budget packages during a July 15 workshop, while tabling certain items — including the proposed stormwater operations fund and some 100‑account reassessment questions — for staff to reconcile with the auditor.
At a July 15 budget workshop, the LaPorte County council approved a series of departmental "twos and threes" budget packages — the line‑item categories typically used for supplies and services — while tabling a handful of items for follow‑up with the auditor.
A blanket motion to accept the recommended twos and threes for the presented departments was moved by Commissioner Novak and seconded by Commissioner Kessler; council members voted verbally in favor. The vote covered multiple departments, including court budgets, drainage, MS4/stormwater, county highway and bridge accounts.
Several items were explicitly held over. Staff said the proposed new stormwater operations fund — which would be funded by permit review fees and appears on the commissioners’ agenda separately — should be considered by the commissioners directly before the council approves transfers. The assessor’s proposed changes to reassessment and sales disclosure postage and dues lines were also tabled so the auditor and assessor can reconcile where money has been recorded and whether transfers or line‑item reassignments are appropriate.
Commissioners repeatedly asked departments to provide detailed backup for the 100‑level salary and capital accounts at a future workshop. For example, highway leadership outlined a capital plan that would use project funds to buy two trucks per year; the council approved the twos and threes while reserving judgment on larger reclassifications or equipment earmarks that would require transfers or separate approvals.
The workshop also included a broad conversation about countywide postage and mail administration. Commissioners and staff discussed current Pitney Bowes usage, whether departments may include inserts in tax or other mailings, and how to track mailer costs; staff said mail operations are centralized under the commissioners to control postage rates and machine maintenance.
The council tabled several complex items for later review and asked departments to return with more precise figures, including quotes for insurance renewals and reconciled reassessment numbers, before finalizing remaining budget decisions.
