MARION — The Grant County Council approved funding for public health programs, emergency medical overtime and cybersecurity upgrades and had a discussion about a potential new jail funding due to Senate Bill 1.
Senate Bill 1 is the property tax relief bill that Governor Mike Braun signed into law April 15.
Council President Greg Kitts said a committee has been formed to evaluate the possibility of building a new jail, but financial prospects remain unclear.
“The thought had been that maybe we had some funding in our general fund which could help pay for that,” Kitts said. “But, Senate Bill 1 has wiped us of that thought, I think at the present time. We’ll wait for all the dust to settle to get some final numbers of exactly what the impact is.”
Council member Jim McWhirt shared similar concerns about the project.
“With the uncertainty that exists as a result of what Senate Bill 1 is going to mean to us makes us pause,” McWhirt said. “I think we have to make sure what that’s going to be before we actually make a decision and take action.”
$205K granted for public health programs
Tara Street of the Grant County Health Department requested an additional $205,000 appropriation from local Health First Indiana money to support several initiatives, including the Great Beginnings Program, Purdue Extension Impact Pantries and Taylor University’s Invitation to Health Program.
“The commissioners have already approved the MOUs (memoranda of understanding) for these. We’re just waiting on the transfer to move ahead,” Street said. “Basically we need to spend this down, or they (the State of Indiana) are is going to ask for it back, and disperse it to counties that do have a need for it.”
Street explained that the Great Beginnings Program helps reduce smoking among pregnant women and provides postnatal support. The Purdue Extension program works to install and provide education to maintain food pantries in schools, and Taylor’s program pairs seniors with fitness and fall prevention education.
“There’s a great deal of reporting that has to come back on the success of the program, and where the funding went. It’s not just a blank check,” Street said. “They have to report to me, and I have to report to the state.”
The appropriation passed unanimously.