Vigo County assessor proposes job reallocation and pay-grade increases; council raises procedural questions

Kevin Gardner, Vigo County assessor, told the council he and Harrison Township Assessor Christina Patterson agreed to remove one township position and reallocate the funds to increase pay grades in both offices.

Gardner said the change would allow a one-grade increase for staff across the two assessor offices. He described the move as cost-neutral overall and said the shared reallocation would save about $10,905.99 to the county while allowing higher pay grades for positions that require advanced certification.

Nut graf: The proposal seeks to shift existing payroll lines — not add new recurring county general fund obligations — by eliminating a Harrison Township position and redistributing that budget authority. Council members questioned whether allowing individual offices to revise grades outside the Baker Tilly pay study would set a precedent and asked that the budget committee review the request.

Gardner said the offices had coordinated so services would not be degraded: staff shifting responsibilities, shared permit processing and fieldwork would cover the removed position’s duties. He said both he and Patterson hold Level 3 assessor-appraiser certification and that deputies require Level 2 certification.

Council members pressed for details and expressed unease about repeated adjustments to Baker Tilly’s recommended grades. One council member asked whether the change could wait for the new budget committee’s review; Gardner said he would accept a short delay as long as any adjustment could be made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. Another councilor noted recruiting difficulty for Level 2–certified staff and said that could justify pay-grade increases.

Ending: The council discussed the matter but did not take a recorded vote during the meeting. Council members requested additional information and suggested the budget committee review the requested reallocation and grade changes before final action.