With no discussion, the Kokomo Common Council approved a $52 million budget for 2010.
The council voted Monday to adopt the fiscal plan, which includes $36.2 million in the general operating fund.
The budget, presented by the administration of Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, includes a 4 percent cut in 2009 spending and the elimination of 11 positions on the Kokomo Fire Department.
Councilman Mike Karickhoff, R at-large, said there were very few changes made to the budget as presented by the administration.
He explained that, as has been done since 2003, an independent review of the budget proposal was completed by accountants Crowe Chizek of Indianapolis.
Karickhoff said the budget is less than 1 percent, or $219,000, above the maximum levy cap.
He said the general fund operating balance will be at 22.7 percent at the end of 2009 and will decrease to 17.4 percent at the conclusion of 2010.
“Crowe Chizek said that would normally be sufficient, but 2011 and 2012 will be tough fiscal years,” Karickhoff said. “We have a solid budget, one that will be approved by the Department of Local Government Finance.”
dixon work Ok’d
The council passed to third reading an ordinance appropriating $583,800 in Economic Development Income Tax funds for the Dixon Road expansion.
Karickhoff said that is the city’s share of the construction costs.
The road will be widened to five lanes between Sycamore and Friendship Boulevard, and will be widened to four lanes between Friendship and Judson Road.
Work is expected to be completed on the project by the end of 2010 with no road closures impacting local businesses during construction.
traffic plan passes
The council also passed through second reading an ordinance to eliminate the traffic signals and convert five intersections to four-way stops.
The traffic signals will be removed at the following intersections: Taylor and Main streets; Taylor and Union streets; Mulberry at Union, Main and Buckeye streets.
Carey Stranahan said last week at a meeting of a downtown committee that the plan is to change the lights to flashing red and yellow by Oct. 27 and to remove the stoplights starting Nov. 30.
Temporary stop signs and signs indicating cross traffic does not stop will be put in place, he said.
• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
Local News
Council approves 2010 budget
Dixon Road improvement funding advances
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE: Police look for witnesses of face-chewing attack
Authorities in Miami are looking for more witnesses after a police officer fatally shot a naked man who refused to stop chewing on the face of another naked man - even after being shot once by the officer - on a busy downtown highway ramp.
-
Witness: naked attacker was chewing on man's face
Miami police have released few details. Police detective says neither man's identity had been determined. Hospital spokesman said Monday the facility would not release information on the victim.
-
Wind farm company seeks tax abatement
Howard County officials are being asked to consider a 10-year tax abatement for the proposed wind farm in the eastern portions of the county.
-
Local ceremonies honor those who fell in combat
Everyone who had gathered Monday afternoon at Darrough Chapel Park was there to remember the hundreds of names below their feet. Each brick in the Howard County Veterans Memorial’s Walk of Honor had the name of a soldier who died in battle.
-
Carver Center selects new director
Former Kokomo city councilman Dennis Morgan is expected to take the reins at the Carver Community Center, just ahead of the annual Ribfest fundraiser.
-
Colts ‘bring blue’ to Kokomo with team’s Fan Fest
The Indianapolis Colts will host a Fan Fest from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 22 at Foster Park, 721 W. Superior St., Kokomo. A free community concert by Poco will begin at 6:30 p.m.
-
$50,000 pantry fundraiser at $4,390
A fundraiser for Howard County food pantries was less than one-tenth of the way to the goal at the campaign’s half-way mark, according to one of the organizers.
-
Fans remember Dan Wheldon at Indy 500
Fans of the Indianapolis 500 took time on race day to remember Dan Wheldon, the popular driver who died in a crash last year at Las Vegas Speedway.
-
Sixth-grader read dictionary twice to prepare for spelling bee
Sixth-grader Pranav Haran spent six weeks reading through the entire dictionary twice.
That’s more than 472,000 word entries.
-
Library building costs may rise to finish project
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library’s Outreach Building is looking good from the outside, but library officials indicated this week they’ll need additional funds to complete the project.
- More Local News Headlines
-
UPDATE: Police look for witnesses of face-chewing attack
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
