[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6189794,"mediaKeyId","5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1","parentId",5055038,"title","Council approves several budget adjustments including generator monitor and insurance increase","audioSeconds",99,"startMs",3343000,"endMs",3442000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1&start=3343&end=3442","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1/thumbnail_3343000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189794/Dubois-County/Indiana/Council-approves-several-budget-adjustments-including-generator-monitor-and-insurance-increase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189794-6ae8a0d8eb6004a9f3f068805ac5fbc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169700&Signature=DU9Igu~whcEcN~FdpAouNbssHhvbxc6DnrMRmP8xuZ7Sna665HQJxBomCwwsFmcctYAek-9QVFD5CD1LAkCSUR5VT-Re2CDLI6zaN4maix9lTKCrt-WDUwyvMMLIYec~l7-nPcC-Oj2bsO-ZuVdmpisCJZ3~RruGgD0ltW9DhXF4RRSE8jH3Z5hmbJtebhVkKWPyVJPz4leNIRsy886XGDIavperCjfZtYwHTrn3SZ8ap38qQg7IeAcQ3DGUjN0mY6Swi4uWup0ZK7~ZdyhBDFcHqsdey10gyGwER7lATNxdSsxRWHEyhmMEgc3cFTq2-tYe5MGlgyPrh45IeSNDMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dubois County IN","date","2025-06-24T10:17:49Z","article","The DuBois County Council on Monday approved a package of budget adjustments and fund actions that the commissioners had forwarded, including a $5,500 payment for generator power monitoring, a $15,000 additional liability-insurance appropriation, and a $5,000 payment from a county incentive fund to pay for a cost-allocation plan vendor.

The council first approved $5,500 tied to a generator power monitor and electrical-panel work that county staff and Commissioner Stuart Wilson had discussed in prior meetings. The motion passed after a brief discussion.

Council members then approved an additional $15,000 for building and vehicle liability insurance in the general fund. Staff explained the county had not originally budgeted for several coverage items that became due later in the renewal cycle and that cyber and other coverages had been added or repriced since the budget was drafted.

On another item, staff asked to charge the county 4-d incentive fund (a narrow child-support-related fund) for the annual cost-allocation plan vendor instead of the general fund going forward. The council approved a $5,000 payment for the vendor in 2025 and directed the 2026 budget to include the line in the county incentive fund. The presenter said the cost-allocation plan returns more indirect cost reimbursement to the county than it costs.

The commissioners also moved to establish an \"unsafe building fund\" to hold fines assessed under Indiana Code 36-7-9-14; the council opened the fund and approved related bookkeeping so fines and any proceeds are held per statute. The council heard that the fines arise when a property owner does not comply with abatement orders and the county may pursue cleanup and place liens if the property owner fails to act.

Lastly, the council approved Recorder ordinance 2025-05, a routine annual affidavit from the recorder regarding use of her perpetuation fund and related budget authority. The recorder had previously stated the fund balance and identified allowable uses and one-time expenditures for office furnishing and equipment.

Each item passed without roll-call dissent. Most items were routine fiscal housekeeping: paying vendors, adjusting insurance appropriations, and opening statutorily required funds. The council asked staff to continue reporting on fund balances and any enforcement steps tied to unsafe-building actions.

Speakers

- Commissioner Stuart Wilson — DuBois County Commissioners (government)
- County financial staff / presenter (unnamed) — (government)
- Council members (various) — DuBois County Council (government)

Discussion and decision

Discussion points: Generator power monitor and electrical-panel relocation follow prior conversations; insurance renewals required unexpected additional charges; the use of the county 4-d incentive fund for the cost-allocation plan will free general-fund dollars for other uses; unsafe-building fines must be held in a statutorily defined fund and can become liens if owners fail to act.

Direction: Staff to implement the appropriation changes, open the unsafe-building fund per IC 36-7-9-14, and continue reporting on fund balances and any enforcement actions.

Decision: Council approved the $5,500 generator payment, $15,000 additional insurance appropriation, $5,000 cost-allocation plan payment charged to the county incentive fund, opened the unsafe-building fund, and adopted Recorder ordinance 2025-05.

Authorities

- type: statute, name/description: Indiana Code 36-7-9-14 (authorizes unsafe-building processes and related actions), referenced_by:[\"county-budget-adjustments-2025-06-23\"]
- type: ordinance, name/description: Recorder ordinance 2025-05 (affidavit regarding perpetuation fund), referenced_by:[\"county-budget-adjustments-2025-06-23\"]

Clarifying details

- category: generator appropriation, detail:\"Additional $5,500 appropriation for generator power monitor / electrical panel work\", value:5500,units:USD,approximate:false,source_speaker:\"County financial staff\"
- category: insurance appropriation, detail:\"Additional $15,000 requested for building/vehicle and cyber insurance renewals\", value:15000,units:USD,approximate:false,source_speaker:\"County financial staff\"
- category: cost-allocation plan, detail:\"Vendor will perform cost-allocation plan at $5,000 annually; county will charge county 4-d incentive fund rather than general fund in future years\", value:5000,units:USD,approximate:false,source_speaker:\"County financial staff\"
- category: unsafe building fund, detail:\"Fund established to hold fines assessed under IC 36-7-9-14 and to support abatement enforcement; proceeds handled per statute\", value:\"not applicable\",units:\"n/a\",approximate:false,source_speaker:\"County staff/commissioner\"

Proper_names

- {\"name\":\"DuBois County\",\"type\":\"other\"},{\"name\":\"IC 36-7-9-14\",\"type\":\"statute\"},{\"name\":\"Recorder ordinance 2025-05\",\"type\":\"ordinance\"}

Community_relevance

- geographies:[\"DuBois County\"], funding_sources:[\"county general fund\",\"county 4-d incentive fund\"], impact_groups:[\"county taxpayers\",\"property owners with unsafe buildings\"]

Meeting_context

- engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":6,\"duration_minutes\":40,\"items_count\":5}
- implementation_risk: \"low\"
- history: [{\"date\":\"2025-06-23\",\"note\":\"Several routine appropriations, fund openings and an ordinance adoption were approved in consent/finance actions.\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"budget\",\"insurance\",\"generator\",\"unsafe-building\",\"recorder\",\"cost-allocation\"]

Provenance

- transcript_segments:[{\"block_id\":\"block_3343.78\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":80,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Under the lit CR text, Stuart was Stuart Wilson was in a few times in previous meetings talking about this electrical panel moving it. We have additional for $5,500... anyone else got any comments there?\",\"global_start\":3343.78,\"global_end\":3372.43,\"tc_start\":\"00:55:43\",\"tc_end\":\"00:56:12\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_3467.67\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Any further discussion on the insurance additional liability insurance? We want to only entertain a motion to approve the $15,000. Meredith seconded. All in favor, say aye.\",\"global_start\":3456.47,\"global_end\":3472.555,\"tc_start\":\"00:57:36\",\"tc_end\":\"00:57:52\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]

topics:[{\"name\":\"county-finance-appropriations\",\"justification\":\"Multiple approved appropriations and fund actions affecting county budgeting and statutory compliance.\",\"scoring\":{\"topic_relevance\":0.90,","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council 6-23-2025","oneSentenceSummary","DuBois County Council approved multiple additional appropriations and new funds, including a $5,500 generator/power monitor payment, a $15,000 liability insurance addition, use of a county incentive fund for a cost-allocation plan, and authorization to open an unsafe-building fund.","taxTitle","Dubois County, Indiana","taxId",70545,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189798,"State official briefs county on property-tax changes; council seeks time to digest revenue projections",1009,4133000,5142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1&start=4133&end=5142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1/thumbnail_4133000.jpg","/articles/6189798/Dubois-County/Indiana/State-official-briefs-county-on-property-tax-changes-council-seeks-time-to-digest-revenue-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189798-83e25362a5f0749535f7779d75f89f34/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169700&Signature=Yhao7HoVy-vkO7QgAj397YVhvvO~w7t2aAMbSlKfFoZZ1G3h5sz-xSMDBUhi42HNz5qrhPfyk1sCrcEkW62rYdxx8bDoLl8P~tHTEzscPeRBSwEsOtBlqNsJ9ClZAwPk0uD7qbGYcVGsUC-0GFWIeXUV9HgvckEmWR~z1-0u-ydvTfXwBl35VrttV9qWKukLokGzLMs1oy71C4suAAkD-b6L7FeTNywPKMOTkl3sUhmxbu7-OVt3PZ4vik-D0vKBs3J1EgrfiOhhbAA8sx5X0Qr8yjDEnWmSEfqPZhnmCATCBac8ZAVOvbvdXI43RjWPwFVvKQxEn59ie9RNN~Moeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A state official briefed DuBois County leaders on recent property-tax reforms and the local revenue implications, explaining that 2026 revenues are expected to be roughly flat with 2025 and that a multi-year transition will move Indiana from a levy-based to a rate-based system by 2031.

The presenter provided printed tables showing projected revenues for DuBois County from 2025 through 2028 under the new roll-back rules and discussed the difference between \"unrealized potential gain\" (the hypothetical revenue if previous rules had continued) and actual dollars the county will receive. \"Roughly, 2026 is gonna be flat from 2025,\" the presenter said, and he explained that an $8,636 projected increase for 2026 reflects a modest change compared with earlier projections that assumed continued 4% allowed levy growth.

The presentation walked through major elements of the reform: conversion of many current deductions into credits over time; phased changes to which share of assessed valuation different property classes pay (residential, rental/land, corporate); and staged adjustments to business personal property exemptions (for example, a higher exemption threshold in 2027). The presenter said the policy goal is to simplify the tax system, increase transparency and shift more decision-making to local governments while acknowledging the transition could involve \"bumps in the road.\" He noted that some counties will be affected more than others and that local elected officials will have decisions to make about budgets and potential use of local income tax or other revenue tools.

Council members asked several clarifying questions about whether the projections included business personal property changes, how the projected figures were computed, and what revenues might be available for employee raises and ongoing county operations. The presenter said the materials provided to the council incorporated business personal property assumptions and reflected the latest projections available to the state at the time of the briefing.

The council thanked the presenter for the materials and said members would study the tables as they begin budget planning. \"I just wanna make sure we're on the same page. I don't wanna give county employees a raise if we don't have the money,\" one council member said. The state official offered additional public meetings and follow-up conversations for staff and elected officials to ask specific questions.

Speakers

- State official Daryl — state budget/finance staff (presenter; government)
- Council members: Meredith, Mike, Brian, Aaron (DuBois County Council)

Discussion and decision

Discussion points: Presented projections show modest change from 2025 to 2026 and larger year-to-year shifts later in the multi-year projection; business personal property thresholds and tax-credit conversions are central features of the reform; counties differ in exposure.

Direction: Council to review materials and incorporate projections into upcoming budget planning; staff to request follow-up meetings and clarifications with state officials as needed.

Decision: No formal council action; informational briefing only.

Authorities

- type: statute/legislation, name/description: recent state property-tax reforms described at the meeting (references to Senate/House rollback legislation and enrolled acts), referenced_by:[\"state-property-tax-reform-briefing-2025-06-23\"]

Clarifying details

- category: 2026 revenue projection, detail:\"County revenue from 2025 to 2026 will increase $8,636 (approx.) under the updated projection,\" value:8636,units:USD,approximate:true,source_speaker:\"State official Daryl\"
- category: business personal property threshold, detail:\"2026 threshold at $80,000; 2027 threshold projected to increase to $2,000,000\", source_speaker:\"State official Daryl\"
- category: policy timeline, detail:\"Transition from levy-based to rate-based system scheduled through 2031; residential deduction phases to roughly one-third of assessed value by 2031\", source_speaker:\"State official Daryl\"

Proper_names

- {\"name\":\"DuBois County\",\"type\":\"other\"},{\"name\":\"Senate rollback 1\",\"type\":\"other\"},{\"name\":\"Governor Holcomb\",\"type\":\"person\"}

Community_relevance

- geographies:[\"DuBois County\",\"Indiana\"], funding_sources:[], impact_groups:[\"homeowners\",\"rental property owners\",\"businesses paying personal property tax\",\"county employees\"]

Meeting_context

- engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":6,\"duration_minutes\":60,\"items_count\":1}
- implementation_risk: \"medium\"
- history: [{\"date\":\"2025-06-23\",\"note\":\"State official provided county-level revenue projections and policy briefing ahead of local budget cycle.\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"property-tax\",\"rollback\",\"county-budget\",\"state-finance\"]

Provenance

- transcript_segments:[{\"block_id\":\"block_4076.825\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":220,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"First 1 here is a handout... If you go back on that wherever the second page like the county, and you can look up top, '25 through '28... 2026 is gonna roughly be flat from 2025.\",\"global_start\":4076.825,\"global_end\":4179.09,\"tc_start\":\"01:07:56\",\"tc_end\":\"01:09:39\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_5142.93\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":140,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Two thirds of homeowners are expected to see a cut... a modest deduction in property taxes... but there will be bumps in the road.\",\"global_start\":5128.515,\"global_end\":5142.93,\"tc_start\":\"01:25:28\",\"tc_end\":\"01:25:42\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]

topics:[{\"name\":\"state-finance-property-tax-reform\",\"justification\":\"Detailed county-level projections and explanation of state property-tax legislation and potential local impacts.\",\"scoring\":{\"topic_relevance\":0.94,\"depth_score\":0.82,\"opinionatedness\":0.06,\"controversy\":0.45,\"civic_salience\":0.86,\"impactfulness\":0.80,\"geo_relevance\":1.00}}]","A state official reviewed recent property-tax legislation and its projected effects on DuBois County revenue, explaining a multi-year transition from a levy-based to a rate-based system and projected impacts for 2026–2028.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189804,"Residents press DuBois County Council to oppose Midstates Corridor; council delays vote",432,1133000,1565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1&start=1133&end=1565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1/thumbnail_1133000.jpg","/articles/6189804/Dubois-County/Indiana/Residents-press-DuBois-County-Council-to-oppose-Midstates-Corridor-council-delays-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189804-995ec247e58377978e9aa1b419c5e351/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169700&Signature=BqnRR3RF3hLnIgirvWUe-8GPQwoZgDrZN1zhiNxAy5RE3KlpJwz48E2Bekoyg2-HKEmpuDCnmqKv7rrcZndRJl-HU56KYhED33YhiQThWqgyn5V3lA6jHYVgu6qx1X1qyF4tKeeM2wNNWfTPwWclLnhMVhAkJchj1Z3ZoDOE18CAuMGD1ZA6KaSTTuw57~1V9jhVTY1DuqtczTcbxHxJXUJO8UQC-0GaGwAlDRtSTmnGo8Qb~f1VpH7s-aUypHiAFFCViPjI7FIImR8fKxOjXvfj0Xnz-F2Inf~iD6gvQxSVhAfZZ5k7i5CqAR07EI9nmA2FpssCl-HwGCWJWxdO9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group of DuBois County residents urged the county council on Monday to adopt a resolution opposing the proposed Midstates Corridor, and the Property Rights Alliance presented a draft resolution that the council said it would study rather than vote on at the meeting.

Mark, a representative of the Property Rights Alliance, read a proposed DuBois County Council resolution (draft number 062325-1) that would oppose the Midstates Corridor project, decline support for eminent domain or additional county tax funding for the highway, and prioritize protecting residents, farmland and the environment. The draft cited a June 11, 2021 state appropriation for improvements to US 231 and argued that improvements to the existing US 231 should be prioritized instead of a new terrain highway.

Mark read the resolution aloud and offered paper packets to council members. \"This is a resolution opposing the Midstates Corridor project,\" he told the council as he read the text.

Dozens of residents spoke during the public-comment portion and at the council invitation. Speakers described loss of productive farmland, damage to multigenerational homesteads and potential economic effects on Jasper-area businesses if a bypass limited local access. \"We will be disrupted by this road,\" said Bob Pfister, one of several residents who identified themselves as farmers or farm owners. Howard Bartels, who said he owns a farm near Honeybird, told the council he would be open to discussing targeted improvements to the existing highway but opposed a diagonal four-lane bypass across his land: \"What they wanna do is run a 4 lane highway diagonally from the...town that's been in my town since 1851. I have a problem with that.\"

Speakers from the opposing side of the project emphasized some distinctions: representatives of the Property Rights Alliance said their group supports the improvements Governor Holcomb announced in 2021 to the existing US 231 alignment but opposes construction of the new corridor alignment as proposed. The draft resolution singled out concerns including displacement, loss of farmland and forest, potential environmental damage, and forecasting it called pro-project economic claims speculative.

Council members said they had received many letters and petitions — speakers at the meeting said petition signatures collected against the project in DuBois County exceed 12,000, with more than 10,000 counted strictly within the county — and they thanked residents for the respectful comment. Council President said he did not want to force a vote that night and preferred more time to study the draft resolution and gather information. \"I don't feel as a council president that I wanna...bring this letter to a vote tonight. I think we need to study it,\" he said.

No formal council vote was taken on the draft resolution. Council members asked for additional information, expressed concern about local fiscal impacts if the county were asked to assume maintenance of roads, and invited residents to bring additional evidence and to attend future meetings. Representatives from the Property Rights Alliance offered to host tours of affected farms and to provide further documentation; the group announced a public meeting and invited council members and the public to attend.

Speakers

- Mark — Property Rights Alliance (presenter; nonprofit)
- Bob Pfister — Resident/farm owner (citizen)
- Howard Bartels — Farm owner (citizen)
- Council President — DuBois County Council (government)

Discussion and decision

Discussion points: Mark presented a drafted council resolution (062325-1) opposing the Midstates Corridor and cited prior studies and public opposition; multiple residents described land- and business-related impacts; petition counts and petition collection methods were discussed.

Direction: Council asked staff to review the draft, collect additional information and petitions, and return with more material before any vote.

Decision: No formal action was taken; the council deferred a vote and will study the resolution further.

Authorities

- type: resolution (draft), name/description: \"Council resolution number 062325-1 (draft) opposing the Midstates Corridor project\", referenced_by:[\"midstates-corridor-resolution-oppose-2025-06-23\"]
- type: other, name/description: Governor Holcomb 2021 appropriation for US 231 improvements ($75,000,000), referenced_by:[\"midstates-corridor-resolution-oppose-2025-06-23\"]

Clarifying details

- category: petition count, detail: speakers reported over 12,000 total signatures collected opposing the Midstates Corridor with over 10,000 from DuBois County residents, value:12000, units:signatures, approximate:true, source_speaker:Meeting speakers
- category: resolution draft, detail: resolution text opposes new terrain highway, will not support eminent domain or additional tax funding; requests prioritizing improvements to existing US 231, value:n/a, units:n/a, approximate:false, source_speaker:Mark
- category: state appropriation, detail: May cite Gov. Holcomb appropriation of $75,000,000 for improvements to US 231 (June 11, 2021) as referenced in draft resolution, units:USD, value:75000000, approximate:false, source_speaker:Mark

Proper_names

- {\"name\":\"Midstates Corridor\",\"type\":\"other\"}
- {\"name\":\"US 231\",\"type\":\"location\"}
- {\"name\":\"Governor Holcomb\",\"type\":\"person\"}
- {\"name\":\"Property Rights Alliance\",\"type\":\"organization\"}
- {\"name\":\"DuBois County\",\"type\":\"other\"}

Community_relevance

- geographies:[\"DuBois County\",\"Jasper\"], funding_sources:[], impact_groups:[\"farm owners\",\"small businesses along US 231\",\"residents near proposed corridor\"]

Meeting_context

- engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":20,\"duration_minutes\":120,\"items_count\":1}
- implementation_risk: \"medium\"
- history: [{\"date\":\"2025-06-23\",\"note\":\"Draft resolution presented; council deferred vote to study matter further.\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"midstates-corridor\",\"transportation\",\"eminent-domain\",\"farmland\",\"petition\"]

Provenance

- transcript_segments:[{\"block_id\":\"block_1133.5701\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":180,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Okay. The Du Bois this is to the Du Bois County Council of State of Indiana. Council resolution number 062325Dash1. It's a resolution opposing the Midstates Corridor project... the council opposes the Midstates Corridor project, will not support eminent domain... Adopted, if you would, this day of 06/23/2025.\",\"global_start\":1133.57,\"global_end\":1296.0,\"tc_start\":\"00:18:53\",\"tc_end\":\"00:21:36\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_1565.4249\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":180,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Anyone else have any comments?... I don't feel as a council president that I wanna...bring this letter to a vote tonight. I think we need to study it.\",\"global_start\":1529.5751,\"global_end\":1565.205,\"tc_start\":\"00:25:29\",\"tc_end\":\"00:26:05\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]

topics:[{\"name\":\"transportation-midstates-corridor\",\"justification\":\"Direct local debate over a proposed major highway alignment and county-level fiscal and land-use impacts.\",\"scoring\":{\"topic_relevance\":0.98,\"depth_score\":0.90,\"opinionatedness\":0.12,\"controversy\":0.92,\"civic_salience\":0.94,\"impactfulness\":0.95,\"geo_relevance\":1.00}}]","Residents and a property-rights group presented a draft resolution opposing the Midstates Corridor highway. The council heard extensive public comment and said it would study the draft rather than vote immediately.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189809,"Council approves salary amendments for jail staff, okays firearms training purchase",420,363000,783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1&start=363&end=783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055038-2058ed6308704f98e9f9e97d546bdaf1/thumbnail_363000.jpg","/articles/6189809/Dubois-County/Indiana/Council-approves-salary-amendments-for-jail-staff-okays-firearms-training-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189809-29823cbf1c72a8dbd071ea26f04a976f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169700&Signature=FiJiNBONX~wvUmvH16kghHZG7yQZnx0u7SzIp29YE5~AML~Vqs7atbg2LOPFD6n7LzDxeEkKD1U9lej8zbW6Dl5cYmmwm08RPGQAZ5vV0XhR3bmdHxAJwTDjuUhnEmwd7Js1DPyRmnxy5b2XxwODh3DywgejFBk2pukfoX-6IjaVfMTaX9HCXiVj1VpMLz0Xc6anbiCggXN2dUO2Yo~eM4q4q6pDc4GDWIhXG1~us5IKqatuNm79ijEcfeIGQkbcgdWJPSUmg0Ok8WnN8MOc5Viwnr9CL-7h4rXpgcXhPAsFNpB2WrHS-o~19XzO4S4teZDqx7QVMHBYRaoT0qBNcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DuBois County Council on Monday approved a set of salary amendments requested by the sheriff’s office to reflect a recent promotion and long-standing position classifications, and authorized an additional firearms-training appropriation so the department could purchase ammunition before prices rise.

The sheriff’s office asked the council to amend pay lines after a recent promotion to road patrol sergeant and to move two jail officers from probationary to full jail-officer pay. \"We just need your approval for a salary amendment essentially to change that,\" Sheriff’s Office chief Jeffrey Monarchs said when presenting the request.

The request covered three items: a one-time salary amendment tied to the sergeant promotion totaling about $2,176 for the remainder of the fiscal year, a change to the sergeant biweekly rate to $2,667.07 effective June 1 for 14 pay periods, and raising the jailer biweekly salary to $1,929.86 for two officers who will reach their first anniversaries later in the year. Council members moved and seconded each item and voted unanimously to approve the amendments.

Monarchs also asked the council to allocate an additional $8,000 to the firearms training fund after receiving a vendor quote. He told the council the purchase would lock in current prices and cover brass and steel ammunition for qualification and duty rounds. \"I'd rather do it now, especially with what's going on nationally,\" Monarchs said, citing rising ammunition costs. Council members voted to approve the $8,000 appropriation.

In discussion, Monarchs described a separate equipment loss: a patrol vehicle damaged in a crash believed not to be the deputy’s fault; insurance is processing the claim and the department expects the vehicle may be totaled. He also summarized an upcoming July 1 statutory change allowing departments to seek reimbursement from other agencies that hire officers within certain periods after academy training; Monarchs said the change will let counties recoup some training and salary costs if officers leave soon after a department pays for training.

The council’s approvals were procedural budget amendments: money for the sergeant’s promotion was reallocated within existing lines and the jailer salary change required only an amendment to pay tables because anniversary increases fall within existing appropriations. The firearms training appropriation was drawn from the training fund that the sheriff indicated is funded primarily through state exceptions tied to handgun permits and training receipts.

The council did not adopt any new policy tied to the requests; the actions were limited to the budget amendments and the firearms purchase authorization. The sheriff’s office said it will place the ammunition order following the appropriation vote.

Speakers

- Chief Jeffrey Monarchs — Chief, DuBois County Sheriff’s Office (government)
- Eric Hopkins — Newly promoted road patrol sergeant (government)
- Council member Doug — DuBois County Council (government)
- Council member Dina — DuBois County Council (government)
- Council member Meredith — DuBois County Council (government)

Discussion and decision

Discussion points: Monarchs explained the sergeant title had existed in past budgets but the 2025 budget line showed a deputy classification; he called the omission an oversight. He described a separate vehicle crash and insurance processing and summarized a new July 1 statutory reimbursement mechanism for training costs.

Direction: Council asked for improved communication when positions are reclassified or staff are promoted so the council and administrative staff can anticipate advertising and budget impacts.

Decisions: Council (unanimous) approved: the $2,176 salary amendment tied to the sergeant promotion; the biweekly sergeant salary of $2,667.07 effective June 1 for 14 pay periods; the jailer biweekly salary of $1,929.86 (anniversary adjustments); and an $8,000 appropriation for firearms training ammunition.

Authorities

- type: ordinance/resolution (budget amendments) — referenced_by: council budget amendment motions

Clarifying details

- category: sergeant shortfall, detail: remaining pay owed to promoted sergeant for 14 pay periods totals about $2,175.60, value:2217.60, units:USD, approximate:true, source_speaker:Chief Jeffrey Monarchs
- category: per-pay increase, detail: additional $155.40 per pay for promoted sergeant, units:USD, approximate:true, source_speaker:Transcript
- category: firearms purchase, detail: additional appropriation requested $8,000 for ammunition purchase to cover next 5-6 years of training, units:USD, approximate:true, source_speaker:Chief Jeffrey Monarchs
- category: vehicle damage, detail: one patrol vehicle likely totaled pending insurance, value:not specified, source_speaker:Chief Jeffrey Monarchs

Proper_names

- {\"name\":\"DuBois County Sheriff’s Office\",\"type\":\"agency\"}

Community_relevance

- geographies: [\"DuBois County\"]
- funding_sources: [\"county general fund reallocations\",\"firearms training fund (state-exception receipts)\"]
- impact_groups: [\"county jail staff\",\"patrol deputies\",\"residents served by county public safety\"]

Meeting_context

- engagement_level: {\"speakers_count\":5,\"duration_minutes\":55,\"items_count\":1}
- implementation_risk: \"low\"
- history: [{\"date\":\"2025-06-23\",\"note\":\"Presentation and immediate budget amendments for sheriff personnel and training purchases.\"}]

Searchable_tags:[\"public-safety\",\"sheriff\",\"budget-amendment\",\"training\",\"ammunition\",\"personnel\"]

Provenance

- transcript_segments:[{\"block_id\":\"block_363.005\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Good afternoon. My name is chief Jeffrey Monarchs, the DuBois County Sheriff's Office. I'll try to make this quick. For some reason I know reason appears that we forgot to put, 2 of our jail officers moving from probationary jail officer to jail officers in the budget for 2025. We just need your approval for a salary amendment essentially to change that.\",\"tc_start\":\"00:06:03\",\"tc_end\":\"00:08:03\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"block_749.40497\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Yes. I also wanted to see if we could allocate an additional $8,000 from firearms training into the firearms training... they gave me a quote, and if I make the buy now versus waiting till next year... so I'd rather do it now, especially with what's going on nationally. First thing that goes up, aside from gas, is ammo...\",\"tc_start\":\"00:12:29\",\"tc_end\":\"00:13:29\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]

topics:[{\"name\":\"public-safety\",\"justification\":\"Direct county action on sheriff office pay and training funds; affects dispatch, patrol and jail operations.\",\"scoring\":{\"topic_relevance\":0.95,\"depth_score\":0.78,\"opinionatedness\":0.05,\"controversy\":0.10,\"civic_salience\":0.75,\"impactfulness\":0.70,\"geo_relevance\":1.00}}]","DuBois County Council approved amendments to jail staff pay to reflect a sergeant promotion and two jailer step increases, and authorized an $8,000 firearms-training purchase after a presentation from the sheriff's office.","actionData","errors"]

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