Tipton — Two of the three Tipton County Commissioners will not seek additional funding for the county’s economic development department.
Earlier this month, the Tipton County Council reduced a funding request submitted by the commissioners in the Capital Improvement Plan, funded through the Economic Development Income Tax, from $85,000 to $50,000.
Council members said they lowered the amount because $35,000 was carried over from the amount appropriated for 2010.
The original EDIT budget presented by the commissioners with the Capital Improvement Plan was for $426,100. However, the council voted Tuesday to reduce the funding level by $35,000.
The council approved funding of $391,100 for the Capital Improvement Plan.
At that time, the commissioners contended that because their plan was modified, the county has no plan and the funds can’t be expended.
However, Commissioner Phil Heron said Thursday it was his opinion that the commissioners should not go back and request the additional EDIT funding.
“In my thought the amount is not that far off,” he said. “It’s time to get off the negatives and fighting and start moving forward.”
With the $35,000 carried over from last year, the commissioners have $85,000 total to work with, and Heron said the commissioners could “live with” the lower amount.
Mike Cline, president of the commissioners, said Friday the best bet is to move forward.
“There is no reason to continue the debate,” he said. “The $85,000 will work for us.”
When asked if the $85,000 would last for the remainder of the year, Cline said he wasn’t sure, but if the account ran short, funds could be transferred.
The majority of the $85,000 appropriated for the economic development department goes to pay the salary of Director Gayle Van Sessen.
Van Sessen receives $6,833 per month or $81,996 for the year. Her current contract is set to expire at the end of May.
County Council Brad Nichols also sought to amend the Capital Improvement Plan by reducing the $300,000 designated for road maintenance by $50,000. He said he wanted to use the rest of the money as part of the county’s local match for improvements to 560 West.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has awarded Tipton County $1.5 million for the road project, which could begin construction in 2012. The county’s match is $312,000.
The project will connect 560 West from Ind. 28 to 100 South near the Abound Solar plant.
Both Heron and Cline said the plan could be amended during a meeting today to include funding for the road project.
“That’s a no-brainer,” Cline said. “We have made a commitment to the state to do that project.”
Cline said funding for road maintenance would be transferred to the 560 West project.
“I don’t know the amount we will transfer,” he said. “We need approximately $320,000 by 2013. We may move more money than needed for the project this year.”
Cline said the county has to start considering setting aside funding for the project instead of waiting to approve all the match funds in a single year.