School Financial Forecast Flips by RAY COONEY Decrease in Vocational Made to Get Jay Schools the Commercial Review Education Funding
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Tuesday, October 18, 2016 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com 75 cents School financial forecast flips By RAY COONEY decrease in vocational made to get Jay Schools The Commercial Review education funding. in the black for 2016. Jay School Corporation While the final num - “All these numbers that may not have the finan - bers have not been pre - I put together are based cial success it had been Change in vocational funding sented yet, vocational on estimates,” said hoping for this year. education funding for Jay DeRome. “I still don’t Interim superintendent leads to projection of deficit Schools could drop by have the final funding Brad DeRome told the $146,000 — about 12 per - formula from the state board at its meeting Mon - cent. yet. As I get closer to the day that a projected drop in That number and the end of the year, we get vocational and per-student reduction in enrollment the final funding formula state funding have led him Board members also at Jay County High down from his original are the key contributors and I have a chance to to change his estimate for set a special meeting to School and had another estimate because of an to a projection that shifts react to this a little bit the year-end cash balance. vote on the hiring of a discussion about substi - enrollment drop of 46 the corporation from a better to see if we can He now forecasts a $94,000 new superintendent, tute teacher pay. students — he had origi - budget surplus to a budg - make changes to get in budget deficit for 2016 after agreed to move forward DeRome told the board nally projected a 34-stu - et deficit for the year, the black, that’s our previously projecting a on plans for a renovation that in addition to state dent decline — he has though DeRome hopes goal.” surplus of about $190,000. of the girls locker room basic grant funding being also been told to expect a adjustments can still be See Forecast page 5 Insurance rate will not change By NATHAN RUBBELKE explained that if the county has The Commercial Review fewer claims next year, the agree - For the third year in a row, ment would allow the county to county employees could see the share in a possible surplus. same rates for health insurance While Anthem has agreed to in 2017. keep costs the same, Heckman Jennifer Heckman, a benefit told commissioners that Physi - specialist with Platinum Benefit cians Health Plan came in with a Consulting Group, told Jay Coun - more competitive offer. ty Commissioners on Monday the The county used Physicians county’s current provider, Health Plan prior to switching to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem. has agreed to keep rates steady However, Heckman told com - next year. missioners during her presenta - It’s the second consecutive year tion that Anthem offers a broader that Anthem has agreed to a rate network and deeper discounts hold. The county started using than Physicians Health Plan. the provider in 2015. Additionally, Heckman said Currently, single employees she has asked Anthem to consid - pay $56.70 monthly for health and er providing relief on the current life insurance premiums and rate or next year and is waiting those with families covered pay on the underwriter to get back to $901.96. These costs are after the her on an answer. county chips in $525. Commissioners were also Heckman told commissioners informed that the county’s cur - Faron Parr, Jim Zimmerman and rent dental insurance provider, Doug Inman that Anthem has Lincoln Financial Group, has also agreed to include a refund agreed to a rate hold as well for agreement to the county’s plan next year. for the upcoming year. She See Rate page 2 Tax abatements being considered By CALEB BAUER stantial damage from a fire in The Commercial Review July, and repair work is ongoing. Two local businesses will be Over the course of the 10 year considered for tax abatements abatement, the company would after unexpected difficulties. save about $51,000. Portland City Council voted to “During that 10-year period, forward two tax abatement pro - we’re looking at 19 jobs retained, posals for Fisher Meats and Fort with another five created,” The Commercial Review/Nathan Rubbelke Recovery Industries to the Tax Bradley explained. Abatement Advisory Committee. An additional five-year abate - Council also approved addi - ment request for $100,000 of new Building bridges tional appropriations for the equipment was also approved, Portland Police Chief Nathan Springer shares a hug and a smile with Abby mayor’s office and voted to close estimated to save Fisher Meats Coby on Monday evening during the police department’s Building Bridges event at East streets for Jay County Chamber about $3,700. of Commerce WinterFest. Council also heard an abate - Jay Middle School. The event was held with Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, Bill Bradley, executive director ment request from Larry Holmes Meridian Services and Jay Community Partners. It included food and a number of of Jay County Development Cor - of Fort Recovery Industries. games for its attendees. poration, presented tax abate - “We had a piece of equipment ment proposals for Fisher Meats that had a premature failure … and Fort Recovery Industries. it’s a piece of equipment we pur - The abatement for Fisher chased used and had refurbished Meats would apply to $375,000 in as part of opening the plant in improvements to its current facil - 2011. Trail progressing at FR park ity. Fisher Meats suffered sub - See Tax page 2 By NATHAN RUBBELKE and running, will loop around annexation should take about The Commercial Review Community Park and is in mem - four months. FORT RECOVERY — Work on ory of Paul Staugler. •Heard that work is finalized a new trail in the village contin - The village was awarded a and all payments have been made McCormick critical ues to progress. $120,000 grant last year from on a reconstruction project on Village administrator Randy Ohio Department of Natural Elm Street. of Ritz’s management Diller told Fort Recovery Village Resources to use toward the •Approved the village’s annual Council on Monday night that project. The Staugler family donation of $250 to Wright State INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — the superintendent of York - construction on a new recre - also donated funds. University – Lake Campus Busi - Democratic state schools town Community Schools near ation trail at Community Park In other business, council ness Enterprise Center. Superintendent Glenda Ritz Muncie since 2010, argues that is “moving along really well” members Dave Bretz, Erik Fiely, •Heard that the village’s has been at the middle of Indi - she would be better able to with most of the trail cut in Dave Garman, Scott Pearson, finance committee met prior to ana’s education policy fights work with the General Assem - already. Cliff Wendel and Al Post: Monday’s meeting to start year- over the past four years, typi - bly and school leaders. “We’ve got a little piece to do •Heard from village attorney end reviews for employees. cally at odds with Republicans The race has garnered little along (Ambassador) Pool there and grants administrator Erin •Were informed there will be a who control the rest of state attention during the year’s yet where they just finished Minor that the village is contin - Federal Emergency Management government and have extended campaign season, but the win - installing a retaining wall right uing the process of annexing Agency hazard mitigation com - school overhaul measures and ner will have a role in major along the east side of the baby properties on Ohio 49 and munity meeting at 1 p.m. Oct. 26 pushed to limit her authority. education matters: the replace - pool,” said Diller, who added all Sharpsburg Road as well as at village hall. Diller said FEMA Her challenger in the ment of the much-maligned drainage work has been com - some right of ways. The village is developing a new hazard miti - November election, Republi - ISTEP statewide standardized pleted on the project. recently reached a settlement gation plan for Mercer County. can Jennifer McCormick, is test, the push to expand state- He said black toppers are ten - agreement to annex land in Gib - •Heard that bids are being critical of Ritz’s management funded preschool programs tatively scheduled to come next son Township. Minor explained advertised for a utility extension of the state Department of and possible changes to the A- week. that once Fort Recovery gets all project on Sharpsburg Road. Education. F school ratings system. The new trail, which is the signatures it needs and files Diller said bids will be opened McCormick, who has been See Management page 5 intended for walking, biking the required paperwork, the Nov. 3. Deaths Weather In review Coming up The high temperature reached 83 degrees Monday in United Way of Jay County, Michael Carter , 53, Wednesday — Coverage of Portland. The overnight low Community and Family Serv - Muncie today’s Portland Housing was 71. ices and Second Harvest Food Patricia Smith , 77, Fort Authority board meeting. There is a chance of show - Bank will team for a free food Recovery ers tonight as the low drops to tailgate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Phyllis Ballard , 83, Friday — Results of South 54. Skies will be mostly sunny Wednesday at Jay County Dunkirk Adams volleyball team’s sec - Wednesday with a high of 73. Fairgrounds. Income verifica - Details on page 2. tional match against Woodlan. For an extended forecast, tion is not required.