Kokomo underspent 2016 budget, lowered spending

Jan. 10--KOKOMO -- The city of Kokomo underspent its 2016 budget by 12 percent and lowered spending last year, according to figures provided by city officials.

Specifically, the city spent $1.66 million less in 2016 than the previous year.

In 2016, the city, ending with an operating surplus for the ninth consecutive year, had a budget of $64.39 million and spent $56.78 million.

That was a drop from Kokomo's 2015 spending total of $58.44 million, according to figures provided by the city.

"We were able to reduce our operating costs while facing the challenge of a natural disaster in August and still maintaining our quality of life initiatives," said Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight in a press release, which referenced last fall's tornadoes, an increase in employee healthcare costs, curbside recycling and other spending measures.

"Kokomo's fiscal health remains strong as we start the New Year."

During September budget talks, Goodnight said in an interview that insurance figures rose in large part because of a higher-than-usual number of "catastrophic claims." Year-end figures for medical claims are not yet available.

At the time, Goodnight also noted that the tornadoes had cost the city an estimated $400,000 -- mainly in overtime and debris-removal spending -- and four weeks of parks and street work.

Additionally, city records show that the number of full-time city employees has dropped from 516 in January 2004 to 381 in December 2016. More recently, the city dropped from 397 full-time employees at the start of last year to its end-of-year total of 381.

Kokomo's debt sits at $64.4 million, or $1,107 per capita. That is the second lowest of the largest 35 cities in Indiana, according to figures provided by the city. The figures were updated in October and utilized 2014 population figures.

George Myers can be reached at 765-454-8585, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @gpmyerskt.

___

(c)2017 the Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Ind.)

Visit the Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Ind.) at www.kokomotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.