The Terre Haute City Council on Oct. 2 approved the city's 2026 budget and a package of appropriations and ordinances that include a $50,000 transfer to replace a deteriorating cemetery workers' shed and a resolution to rename portions of First Street and Pritchard Road to create a single riverfront gateway.

The measures were approved at the regular meeting Thursday evening at City Hall. Mayor (unnamed in the record) told the council the cemetery shed is in poor condition and the transfer will pay for a new structure: "we are transferring funds internally within cumulative capital development ... to pay for the new cemetery workers' shed." The council approved the transfer as Resolution 23 20 25.

The renaming resolution moved a step toward branding the riverfront. Laurie (presenting for Riverscape and redevelopment collaborators) said the proposal would rename sections of First Street North and South and parts of Pritchard Road from Maple Avenue to Margaret Avenue to create a consistent gateway to the riverfront, and said the change is intended to be permanent: "we would rename that, permanently as a way to create identity and eventually, as we build out the riverfront along that space, creating a gateway down what is now First Street toward our riverfront." The council approved Resolution 24 20 25.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 23 20 25: Transfer of $50,000 in the cumulative capital development fund to pay for a new cemetery workers' shed. Moved by Councilperson Lautermilk; second by Councilperson Chalos. Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Resolution 24 20 25: Renaming portion of First Street and Pritchard Road (maple to Margaret) to create a riverfront gateway (referenced in discussion as "Riverside Road"). Moved by Councilperson DeBaun; second by Councilperson Hinton. Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Appropriation 10 20 25: Carryover balance appropriation for paving operations to continue paving work (projected start around March). Moved by Councilperson Hinton; second by Councilperson Boland. Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Appropriation 11 20 25: Move IEDC reimbursement into the Make My Move program line. Moved by Councilperson Dickle; second by Councilperson Thompson. Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Appropriation 12 20 25: Transfer from cumulative capital development to building improvements to pay cemetery project in cash. Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Appropriation 13 20 25: Use casino funds to pay principal and interest on specified leases (Engine 36 and related fire equipment) to realize interest savings and free budget capacity in EMS. Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Appropriation 14 20 25: The 2026 city budget (filed as the formal appropriation). Outcome: approved (voice vote: aye).

- Multiple special ordinances adopting 2026 salary ordinances for city departments and offices were considered and approved at the meeting, including special ordinances for city hall employees, parks, cemetery, wastewater, police civilian employees, police department, fire department, mayor, city council, city court judge, city clerk, redevelopment and others (see Actions array for the full list). Two salary-related ordinancesthe Street Department ordinance (Special Ordinance 22 20 25) and the Transit Dept (Special Ordinance 23 20 25) were discussed but deferred for follow-up and further clarification.

Why it matters

Approving the budget and these appropriations sets the city's spending priorities for 2026, provides immediate funding for an urgent facilities repair in the cemetery department and moves forward a street renaming intended to support riverfront redevelopment and wayfinding. The council's actions also resolve financing decisions intended to capture interest savings and free future budget space by paying certain lease principal and interest with casino revenue.

Details and context

- Cemetery shed: The mayor told the council the cemetery workers' shed was "quite literally caving in on itself" and that internal transfers within the cumulative capital development fund will pay for a new shed. The approved transfer was $50,000.

- Riverfront renaming and business assistance: Laurie said redevelopment partners have been in conversations about more than 80 acres of riverfront property. The city alerted property owners and businesses by certified mail and held a public open house on Sept. 25; Laurie said city staff also visited businesses along the route. The city will offer a small reimbursement pool to help businesses update signage and printed materials; Laurie said the pool is expected to be about $3,000 and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and that she had negotiated a reduced-price print kit with Tabco. She told the council there are about 30 businesses along the corridor, about 90 parcels, and roughly 60 to 65 unique property owners.

- Casino funds and lease payoff: The council approved using casino (riverboat) funds to pay off lease principal and interest tied to fire equipment and Engine 36. The appropriation lists principal amounts of approximately $629,110 and $19,710 interest line items (per the agenda text). The administration said the payoff yields roughly $26,000 in interest savings and frees two budget lines (amounts cited in discussion: $363,712 and $285,098) for EMS operations and equipment.

- Budget summary: The mayor presented the 2026 budget form. The document spans multiple funds and reported a roughly 1.45% to 1.47% overall increase from 2024 to 2025 in combined appropriations.

What council members asked or sought

Council members pressed for details about business outreach and the address-change process for the renaming; staff said 911/addressing changes will be coordinated by area planning and the 911 system would be updated without property owners needing to take further action. Council members also asked for specific cost figures for replacement signage (an example of an 8.5-by-14 metal sign was given at about $99).

Implementation and next steps

- The renaming measure includes outreach and a small grant program to help businesses with address-change expenses; staff said the U.S. Postal Service will forward mail indefinitely for affected addresses.

- The mayor and administration said paying off the leases with casino revenue reduces near-term debt service and increases operational flexibility in future budgets.

Ending

Council approved the budget and related appropriations at Thursday's meeting, while directing staff to continue outreach to affected property owners and businesses on the renaming and to post details about the business assistance program on the city website and social media.