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Lawrence council adopts ordinance to correct 2025 police and fire salary listings
Summary
The Lawrence Common Council unanimously approved an ordinance to fix omissions in the 2025 salary ordinance for police and fire personnel; city staff said the changes were already budgeted and based on the collective bargaining agreement, while a resident speaker raised questions about retroactive pay timing.
The Common Council of the City of Lawrence, Indiana, voted unanimously to adopt Proposal Number 1, 2025, an ordinance amending the salary ordinance to include appointed police and fire officer entries omitted in the earlier posting.
Councilors approved the ordinance after the public safety committee gave a favorable recommendation and city staff told the council the corrections reflect items already budgeted under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
City legal counsel Michael Allen confirmed a review had been completed. An administration staff member told the council, “No. They’re not not giving wages. This is already budgeted for, based off the CBA. Some things were left off of on left off and not put on the salary ordinance after review.” The ordinance language states the amendments “shall be effective immediately upon adoption.”
During public comment, resident Daniel Rapp raised budget and timing concerns, asking whether the budget had originally included the omitted amounts and pressing about retroactive pay: “My question is for the for the police. What about the 6 weeks between January and 19 February? It's retro pay in this proposal.” Rapp also noted the mayor’s signature timing, saying the mayor “will not sign it prior to 19 February.”
Councilor Robinson moved to adopt the ordinance; Councilor Jennings seconded. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
The council record shows the measure was introduced at the February 3, 2025 meeting and returned with a favorable recommendation from the public safety committee. The ordinance text and any implementing pay calculations were not printed in full in the public meeting transcript.
