Proposed 2015 budget expected to be approved

Barring any major modifications in the next week and a half, St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners is expected to approve a 2015 fiscal year budget of almost $16.5 million.
The proposed budget is 11.6 percent less than the 2014 budget, which is about $18.6 million.
Finance director Joni Smith said three requests were made for new personnel in 2015, and all three were granted by commissioners: animal control will have a new full-time staff member whose work will center on the kennel area; a second part-time veterans’ benefits coordinator will join the county payroll in 2015; and a full-time ranger will join the parks and recreation department.
A public hearing on the budget Tuesday drew no comments. Consequently, the 2015 budget is likely to be approved as proposed at the commission’s Dec. 16 meeting.
The county’s 2015 budget goes into effect Jan. 1.