County council looks for budget help

With millions of dollars to allocate, hundreds of accounts to track, strict state reporting requirements and 2027 budget time quickly approaching, Wayne County Council needs more help administering the county’s budgeting process.

Originally, council was looking to contract for assistance properly recording and reporting budget requests and changes, but it has since pivoted, something council President Max Smith said was probably better in the long run. During its June 3 meeting, council approved posting a payroll clerk position that would free the current payroll clerk, Amy Chenowith, to provide needed budget assistance.

“We’re in a mess,” said council member Misty Hollis, who also noted the conversation occurred without Auditor Mark Hoelscher in attendance.

Chenowith transferred out of the auditor’s office to another county position; however, she’s continued performing payroll duties. She also is the Republican nominee — currently running unopposed — for county auditor in November’s general election.

Council’s hope is to hire someone Chenowith can train to handle payroll, freeing Chenowith to focus on budget issues, including required uploading to the state’s Department of Local Government Finance’s Gateway public website.

Council member Beth Leisure noted that the plan handles payroll and budget through the end of 2026 when the new auditor takes office.

Hollis opposed permitting the hiring of an employee because the budget line items are not in line. The payroll clerk position is filled, and the county does not permit hiring for a filled position. 

Council member Barry Ritter, who chairs the personnel committee, said this is a unique situation council needs to address to protect the county during the budget process.

Council member Gary Saunders moved that council permit posting and hiring; however, the motion died for lack of a second. Smith said council needed to start the hiring process because its full-day budget hearing is scheduled for July 22. He moved that the position be posted, with council later granting permission to hire.

That motion passed 6-1, with Hollis dissenting.

Autopsy costs

Coroner Brent Meadows told council that his department would run out of money for autopsies.

He estimated $65,000 more would be needed to cover the rest of the year. Meadows said the department will likely have handled 200 deaths by the end of June, although not all require autopsies. Autopsies conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Dayton, Ohio, cost $1,500 each.

Meadows said the fund also has been impacted by three autopsies conducted on Wayne County residents who died while incarcerated with the Indiana Department of Correction. Those autopsies cost up to $5,000 each.

Council member Jeff Cappa questioned whether state statute makes a county responsible for autopsy cost rather than DOC. The issue will be investigated and, if the county is not responsible, reimbursement sought.

Council decided that once the coroner’s autopsy fund is depleted, council will pay for autopsies from its contingency fund.

Meadows also received council’s approval to post and hire for a deputy coroner’s position because of a resignation taking effect June 30. Meadows said he hopes to hire a candidate already certified rather than a candidate who must attend the state certification training class.

Probation grant

Adam McQueen, the county’s chief probation officer, informed council that the Indiana Department of Correction is cutting the grant that funds a probation officer. It will continue funding a community corrections position.

McQueen said that because of the cut he has not filled an open position. In his 2027 budget request, McQueen moved the grant-funded probation officer into the line item for the vacant position.

“I guess my hope is that more money is put into that for the 2028-29 biennial budget for the state,” McQueen said. “I’m trying to be as responsible as I can with my budget.”

McQueen did receive funding from council’s one-time line item for Superior Court 1 to purchase a Canon copier. The copier will cost $4,790 plus an annual maintenance rate of $158.40 per year for 66 months.

During council’s finance committee meeting, McQueen received council approval for transfers of $1,750 to cover translator expenses and $5,500 to a court reporter’s position so that it’s fully funded for the rest of the year. The payout of unused benefit days upon a retirement left the line item short.

Sheriff’s issues

Sheriff Randy Retter reported a balance of $219,923.89 in his commissary fund after the year’s first quarter. That’s $17,609.11 more than Jan. 1.

Council approved five transfers of $32,000 from jail deputy line items to temporary civilian correctional officer line items. Retter implemented a policy where he hires civilian COs, then promotes to deputy positions rather than trying to hire deputies, which is more difficult.