Gary council approves budget adjustments for law department and mayor’s donation fund

The Gary Common Council unanimously approved CPO 2025-30, a set of budget adjustments for city departments that included an increase to the city attorney line and allocations from the mayor’s donation fund.

During the budget overview, a city finance presenter explained the law department request to increase the city attorney position budget from $75,000 to $85,000 and to eliminate a $12,000 insurance line; the staff presentation said those changes produce a net operating difference of $923, which staff proposed to place on current charges. The presenter provided comparative salary figures from other Indiana municipalities as context for the request.

The council also reviewed the mayor’s donation fund. Staff reported $43,970 was carried over from the prior year, including a $25,000 donation from Domino’s Pizza, of which $20,000 had already been spent; staff requested allocations of $5,000 for other materials, $20,000 for grants and subsidies, and $20,000 for machinery and equipment. Council members thanked staff for the detail and asked no further substantive questions.

Corporation counsel and other staff members noted the mayor’s donation fund uses and that accounts had been rolled forward to address storm-related assistance and community needs. After discussion the council voted 7–0 to pass CPO 2025-30.

The ordinance record states no change to the overall budget total; staff said the law department adjustment is an internal reallocation. Staff will complete necessary budget bookkeeping and implement the approved allocations for the donation fund and department salaries.