County Board of Finance reports $2.3 million in investment earnings for 2025

The Dubois County Board of Finance collected $2.3 million in investment earnings during 2025, maintaining strong returns despite declining interest rates throughout the year, County Treasurer Craig Greulich reported. The earnings represent a slight decrease from 2024’s peak of $2.7 million but match the $2.3 million earned in 2023.

“We peaked maybe in March, it seemed like we made a peak and we kind of slowly trickled down since then,” Greulich says about interest rate trends during 2025.

The county maintains $6.4 million in certificates of deposit and approximately $41.5 million with Springs Valley Bank, which offers variable interest rates weekly. It also earns money on Certificates of Deposit (CDs) at local banks. In 2025, the four CDs held by the county earned $254,000.

“Everything we do is local. I’ve always felt like that was what I want to do. I represent our community, and I want them to have first shot,” Greulich said. “Our local banks are reinvesting the money that’s here locally.”

The treasurer compared local rates favorably with those of Trust Indiana, a state investment option that provides weekly rate updates. Local bank rates consistently meet or exceed those alternatives, according to Greulich.

The county earns interest on three main accounts: the general fund, excise tax collections, and payroll. Excise money gets deposited but not immediately distributed, allowing the county to earn interest during holding periods, Greulich pointed out during the meeting. As interest is earned, it is rolled back into those funds.

Blessinger noted the significance of investment earnings for taxpayers, explaining that $2.3 million in interest income reduces the amount the county needs to raise through taxes.

Greulich also presented data breaking down where property tax revenue is distributed, showing the distribution of $69.2 million collected in 2025 in Dubois County across the different government units. Schools receive the largest share at 53% of total collections, while the county received 14.7%, approximately $10 million.

The remaining property tax revenue supports airports, cities and towns, townships, tax increment finance districts, and fire districts.

“I think maybe the public wants to know,” Greulich said about including the breakdown. “So anybody who has a question about that, they can come and we can show them this is where it’s at.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Greulich expected investment earnings to decline as interest rates continued to fall.

The board also addressed $537.27 in uncashed checks from two years ago, which will return to the general fund after attempts to contact recipients proved unsuccessful. The county sent letters to check holders but received no responses.