On Oct. 6, 2025 the City of La Porte Common Council opened public hearings and introduced multiple fiscal measures for 2026, including the civil city budget, salary ordinances and administrative housekeeping resolutions. Most items were introduced or heard on first reading and are scheduled to return to the council on Oct. 20 for further action.

The civil city appropriation and tax‑rate ordinance presented for introduction listed a total adopted budget of $23,979,984, an adopted tax levy of $15,926,800 and an adopted tax rate of 2.279 as the figures shown in the draft. Clerk Treasurer Courtney Partheun told the council that many adopted tax‑rate figures are preliminary and will be adjusted during certification by the Department of Local Government Finance. "That adopted tax rate is not gonna be... correct, but it's not gonna be correct until everything is certified," she said.

Council members framed the budget within the larger fiscal context. Speakers noted two recurring constraints: circuit‑breaker property‑tax credits and pending state changes known as Senate Bill 1. Officials said La Porte currently experiences circuit‑breaker losses that reduce available revenue roughly 30 percent and emphasized that increasing net assessed value is the primary mitigation strategy. The administration reported the city's net assessed value is about $998,300,000 — "basically a billion dollar city" in the mayor's words — which leaders said helps offset circuit‑breaker impacts.

During the meeting the council introduced two salary ordinances on first reading: one fixing salaries for appointed officers and employees (the salary schedule and bonus language were included) and a separate ordinance establishing salaries for elected officials. The proposed elected‑official salaries listed mayor and clerk‑treasurer pay at $84,000 each and council member pay at $12,000 per year; final adoption of salaries will follow the statutory ordinance process and public review.

The council also adopted administrative resolutions on the floor. One resolution created three clearing accounts for payment processing — a utilities ACH fund, a utilities credit‑card fund and a general credit‑card clearing fund — to manage automated and card payments before those receipts are distributed to operating funds. Clerk Treasurer Partheun said the action clarifies bookkeeping requirements under the State Board of Accounts. Separately, the council approved a resolution transferring modest amounts between 2025 budget line items, including the elimination of a recurring "event staff tips" budget item by moving that function to a clearing account.

Public hearings on the civil‑city appropriation and tax‑rate ordinance and on redevelopment appropriations were opened, public comments were accepted, and the hearings were then closed for consideration at the Oct. 20 meeting. Council and staff encouraged residents to review posted materials online and to contact the Clerk Treasurer's office with questions.