HUNTERTOWN - How much to cut remains a question, but the Huntertown Town Council gave Clerk-Treasurer Robin Riley permission to cut the 2009 budget on Monday night.

The budget, which was approved in June, advertised the Town’s maximum levy and tax rate high. Riley says this is done knowing the Town budget may be cut down to the percentages allowed by the State. Any money not used in the budget can be used to fund the upcoming budget, which Riley says is the plan with these budget cuts.

Riley was asked how much will be cut, but she has no idea on an exact dollar figure.

The Town Council has until the end of the calendar year to approve any budget changes, and have asked Riley to present any changes to them for approval.

Council member John Hidy inquired about which funds the Town may cut from, saying he did not want to see funds cut from the Motor Vehicle Highway (MVH) fund or the Local Road and Street fund.

“We do not have projects on the table for our Cumulative Capital Development fund or our Rainy Day fund, so the total amounts will be cut from the 2009 budget and used to fund the 2010 budget,” Riley explained.“The likelihood of there being any money left (in the MVH or Local Road and Street funds) is a slim chance.”

In a related vote, the Council approved a resolution to reduce various 2009 Appropriations to help reduce any budgetary shortfalls.

Values of $60,815 will be reduced from the General account,$323,363 from the CCD account,$233,239 from the CEDIT account, and $37,741 from the Rainy Day fund.

In other Town Council news:

* The Council voted unanimously to begin moving forward with a Wastewater Treatment Project, including interviewing engineering firms for the project.

Council member Bruce Dunwiddie simply asked where the Council was with the project, and Council member Dave Rudolph made the proposal.

“There is no reason we shouldn’t get started, especially with the rates Fort Wayne may charge us,” Rudolph said.

Rudolph has made phone calls to area Towns of similar size to Huntertown (Avilla, New Haven, and Churubusco) who have recently built Wastewater Treatment facilities. Based on the numbers he received from those Towns, and the current rates at which the Town charges for the service, Rudolph estimated that the Town could be making money with their own Wastewater Treatment Plant within 10 years.

An agreement with the City of Fort Wayne could see rates estimated between 22 and 25 percent, according to Rudolph.

The Council also approved final payment of $15,216, which completes payment on the south water tower on Fort Recovery Road.

The Council gave unanimous support to Local Boy Scout and Cub Scout Troop Leader Kregg Snyder to use the grounds for the future Town Park for camping. Snyder said three Boy Scout Troops and three Cub Scout Troops are interested in using the area for a camp out.