Montgomery County Council members received a lot of information Tuesday that will help them make future decisions. Items discussed included a variety of topics that led ultimately to trying to make the best financial decisions.
County Highway Director Jake Lough and the county financial adviser, Jeff Peters, presented funding options for the improvement of county roads.
Lough presented the council with updated financial records showing the county has made strides in providing the funding needed to maintain and improve roads. However, Lough said there are 30 roads on his list that need major improvement and the present funding method will not easily allow the roads to be improved.
Showing projected revenue to be provided by the county wheel tax and the general fund, Lough showed his plan to improve roads continues to be underfunded each year by $350,000 per year.
Lough also presented a “wish” list of equipment his department needs.
The largest expenditure would be to add a pug mill which mixes cold mill asphalt. The cost of a new pug mill is estimated to be $850,000. The present mill was purchased in 1965 and takes four men to operate producing two truck loads per day. The new mill would double production at four loads per day and would use just two employees to operate.
Council members asked Lough to get an estimate. Peters said the county has options to provide funding for the pug mill. Funding could be found in a combination of the county cash balance of nearly $12 million, issue a bond, obtain funds with a loan, or raise local income tax rates.
The council has options for raising road funding. Council members agreed they did not want to raise property taxes. Issuing bonds along with using some cash on hand could be one way to fund the new mill.
The council agreed to get more information on the purchase of the mill. Lough was asked to obtain bids for the pug mill.. Other equipment on Lough’s list will be considered once the council has more information on the pug mill.
The state has asked counties to form a Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce (MUST). Financial fiduciary officials from the county, Crawfordsville and each town council will be on the taskforce (LIT) in the future. LIT provides funds for fire and emergency services.
For each town the chief fiduciary officer will be the town clerk. Town council members can attend the meeting but will have no seat on the taskforce.
The purpose of MUST is to decide how LIT funds will be distributed.
The council would like to see the first MUST meeting before Oct 1.
The council approved compensation studies for the Central Communication Center employees and the Deputy Surveyor position.
Crawfordsville Park and Recreation asked the council to provide $35,000 for the 2027 budget for the highly successful local transit program. The transit program is expanding in 2027. The council agreed to place the funds into the new budget. The county paid $25,000 for the program in 2026.
A request from Sheriff Ryan Needham to purchase a washing machine for the county jail in the amount of $8,729.52 was approved. The money will come from the jail’s commissary fund.
The Animal Welfare League requested $3,000 from the Dog Tax Fund and it was approved.
The next council meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 11 at the Montgomery County Government Center, 1580 Constitution Row, Crawfordsville.
