By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — Winona Lake plans to have the same amount in its budget as last year: $5,029,852.

At its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Winona Lake Town Hall, the Town Council adopted the budget. The council also opted to not raise the salaries of council members, Town Clerk-Treasurer Kent Adams or any town employees for the upcoming year.

Though all upcoming budget fund amounts exactly mirror 2020 ones, the estimated tax rate is actually dropping by .0153 cents per $100 of assessed valuation from .7010 cents to .6857 cents. That’s because the 2021 property net assessed value stands at $179,039,655, an increase of $11,171,450 or 6.2%.

The budget breaks down to: $65,000 in the casino/riverboat fund; $100,000 in the rainy day fund; $1,324,367 in the general fund; $80,100 in the local road and street fund; $766,859 in the motor vehicle highway fund; $2,500 in the continuing education fund; $175,530 in the park and recreation fund; $175,000 in the cumulative capital development fund; $800,000 in economic development income tax; $200,000 in the TIF fund; and $1,340,496 in the wastewater fund.

Other Business

In other business, the council also:

• Heard that the town’s trick-or-treat hours are set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 and the Village Christmas Shopping Extravaganza is planned for 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 7. Town Council President Rick Swaim asked if there were any special COVID-19 rules in place for trick-or-treating. Town Manager Craig Allebach said there will be information on the town’s website, but the town is mainly recommending that people wear masks and social distance.

• Approved engaging legal counsel from Turner and Valentine and Barnes and Thornburg law firms for bond issues.
• Approved allowing Fire Chief Kevin Gelbaugh to find deals on gear for the fire department.
• The council’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Nov. 17 at Winona Lake Town Hall.