County commission approves 2018 budget

The 2018 fiscal-year budget approved Tuesday by St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners features more than $3 million less than the 2017 budget.

With a dissenting vote by Commissioner Kathy Pangle, the board approved an $18.6 million general-fund budget for the fiscal year starting Jan. 1. The amended 2017 general-fund budget was nearly $21.9 million, about 17 percent more than the budget commissioners approved Tuesday.

Finance director Ryan Post, who joined the county in July, said the breakdown of the impending budget features $11.5 million for personnel expenses, $4.3 million for operations, nearly $2 million for appropriations, and more than $800,000 for capital outlay and transfers out.

Pangle voted against the motion to approve the budget. She said she objects to the fact it includes a one-quarter mill the county approved to fund its parks and recreation department.

The mill will be in place for four years and was approved by the majority of the five-member board Dec. 5.