Fiscal Issues Dominate Martin County Council Meeting

Budget decisions and tax revenue concerns highlighted the Martin County Council’s meeting on Monday night. 

The Council approved several requests for appropriations, including one for ambulance services. Consideration of funding three-fourths of the ambulance budget was tabled in a previous meeting. The board reviewed the ambulance status report with a breakdown of the full operating budget, with significant discussion about the available options. They deliberated an option to approve funding for one quarter while the full budget underwent further review. Ultimately, in order to avoid unnecessary administrative complications, a decision was made to authorize funding for 25% of the approved operating budget. 

The board discussed the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) received for the state. One payment is received for the 7800 acres of State Forestry, but not the 9500 acres of National Forestry. Further inquiries will be made to determine if the county is being underpaid by the state. This is a significant funding loss, since development of the acreage would net a significant influx of property taxes. Officials noted that the county is frequently overlooked for improvements. 
 
While they acknowledged the employment benefits from the presence of NSA Crane, they also emphasized the region is still in need of infrastructure updates. 

In other business, a contract was renewed with FSG (Financial Solutions Group) for 2026, not to exceed $25,000. This extends the relationship with the advisory firm, which provides financial consulting services to support the county's fiscal management needs. 

The Martin County Soil and Water Annual Meeting and Dinner will be held on Monday, February 9, at the Community Building in Loogootee. Doors open at 6, and the catered meal will be served at 6:30. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but RSVPs are requested by calling 812-295-3149, or emailing [email protected]. Meal tickets are $5 for adults. Meals for children 18 and under are free. 

Before adjourning, the board thanked the Martin County Highway Department for their considerable efforts during the recent snowstorm. Members reported calls from their constituents, also expressing their gratitude. 

For more information on these and other updates, visit the Martin County Indiana Courthouse Facebook page. 

 - Drew Hasselbring