Wayne County Council members learned their working 2027 general fund budget exceeds estimated revenue by about $10 million.
Council discussed the budget during the Sept. 16 combined council/commissioners workshop. Members concentrated on preparing to advertise the budget on the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance’s Gateway website, available at wwn.to/budgets26.
The working general fund budget of about $45.2 million includes a $3 million pad in council’s one-time fund to ensure the advertised budget is enough. After advertisement, the budget can be decreased but not increased.
The $45.2 million figure, however, did not include a placeholder for employee raises. Amy Chenowith, who is running unopposed in the November election to become auditor and is helping with council’s budget work, was to develop a placeholder figure that will be included in the advertised budget. Council will finalize the raises later.
The county previously hired C.L. Coonrod & Company as a consultant to guide the county through the budget process and the ongoing property tax and local income tax changes that the state legislature implemented. Ben Roeger of Coonrod provided council a $35.5 million estimate for 2027 general fund revenue, including from property taxes and local income taxes.
The county generally spends about 92% of its general fund budget each year, and the general fund cash balance is about $9.5 million before the county receives the year’s second property tax distribution.
During its discussion, council budgeted for an additional emergency communications specialist position resulting from consolidation of Wayne and Union county 911 dispatching. Union County and Liberty are expected to pay $250,000 in 2027 for the service, more than covering the extra dispatcher’s salary and benefits.
Council also discussed changes with Purdue Extension that trimmed about $3,000 from that budget.
Coroner Brent Meadows shared that the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Dayton, Ohio, is increasing its charge to perform Wayne County autopsies from $1,500 to $1,600 effective Jan. 1. The charge initially was set at $1,900 but Montgomery County lowered it because Wayne County participates in an Indiana program that pays for normal toxicology screenings.
Meadows requested council increase his autopsy line item request in the 2027 budget by $10,000 to cover the increase for 100 autopsies. Council, however, opted to leave the $163,000 request as it was because that amount would cover 100 autopsies at $1,600 apiece.
Council decided to further discuss the budget during a special meeting at 1 p.m. Sept. 29. The budget will be introduced on first hearing at council’s 8 a.m. Oct. 7 meeting, with budget adoption expected during the 6 p.m. Oct. 21 workshop.
Other issues
- Meadows also shared that his chief deputy, Dillon Pitcher, is resigning effective Oct. 4. Tim Brown, who has previously served as chief deputy, will return to the role.
- Council authorized applications for state Community Crossing grants and approved letters committing the 50% local funding. The applications will request 50% funding for a $260,000 Clyde Oler Road bridge project, a $350,000 Robinson Road bridge project, a $79,106.76 asphalt project on Gravel Pit Road, and chip-and-seal projects of $140,000 and $194,655.
- Council and commissioners approved a 15-month interlocal agreement with Union County and Liberty for the emergency communications consolidation. The agreement calls for Union County to pay $200,000 and Liberty $50,000 during 2027. The agreement will be reevaluated at the end of 2027.
A version of this article appeared in the September 23 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
