ST. JOHN | Plans to build an indoor gun range for police have been put on hold.
St. John earmarked $200,000 last year for the project, and town officials wanted to open the range this summer.
But because the state is forcing the town to work with 2007 budget numbers, money that would have gone toward the range will go toward other necessary costs instead.
"I feel that the town did what it had to do to meet the operating expenses," Police Chief Fred Frego said.
Frego said he looks at the decision as a temporary setback.
"The range was an 'extra,' and I believe it's short term," he said. "We'll get it eventually. It's just all been put on hold."
The range, which will be built in the basement of the town's new public safety facility, will be a modern, three-lane range that allows for props, varied lighting conditions and simulations.
It is still in the design stage, Frego said.
The town will revisit its financial situation in six to eight months, but construction of the range will be deferred, probably until at least next year, Town Manager Steve Kil said.
State agencies and the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns are cautioning local governments that they need to reduce their reliance on property taxes.
"We need to put those capital projects on hold," Kil said.
The $200,000 that was tied to the project will be directed toward making up any budget deficits.
Part of that deficit comes from garbage pickup fees. The Town Council recently denied an ordinance that would have imposed a $15 monthly garbage fee on residents. Instead, the town will continue to pay for residents' garbage pickup.
"If we had the additional revenue that would've been generated for the garbage fee, it would've made the gun range more of a possibility," Kil said.
The town is holding back on capital projects and has slashed overtime work.
"This is consistent with the direction given by the Town Council," Kil said. "We're tightening our belts."
Delaying the construction of the gun range won't hurt police training. Officers can continue traveling to nearby ranges, Frego said.
"We'll keep shooting, just outdoors," he said.
