As John Weicker finishes his final two months of school, he’s counting down the days with a small ticker in his office.On Thursday, the counter read 44 days, plus a few hours, minutes and seconds.FORT WAYNE – Allen County Sheriff Ken Fries told the Allen County Council on Thursday that he needs an additional $400,000 to cover medical costs for inmates at the Allen County Jail.
In response, the council unanimously agreed to allot $100,000 to the sheriff’s department budget, saying that was all the money available in the general fund for the rest of the year.
The council had budgeted $1.1 million for inmate medical care, which the sheriff’s department has already spent. Fries predicted inmate medical expenses will create an $800,000 shortfall by the end of the year.
The council encouraged Fries to come up with other budgeting solutions for the remaining portion.
Councilman Roy Buskirk, R-at-large, asked what the council would do for the rest of the year when other departments came to them needing more money.
County Auditor Tera Klutz suggested a simple response.
“Just tell them 'no.' You can’t find money where there is none,” Klutz said.
For more on this story, see Friday’s print edition of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Friday.
vsade@jg.net
