Library budget cleared by committee; CFO corrected fund-balance slide and union wage talks continue

Committee members moved Proposal 2-86, the Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library's 2026 operating and maintenance budget and tax levy, to the full council with a "do pass" recommendation during the Municipal Corporation Committee meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Library representatives told the committee their budget presentation stood as submitted and that additional information had been circulated. Councilor Jesse Brown asked about whether wage increases would be flat dollars or percentage-based. Library staff responded that they are still negotiating with the union and that the union had returned a proposal; library staff said they are "negotiating in good faith" but did not provide a final wage decision in committee.

CFO Candice (identified in the transcript as the library CFO) confirmed she had emailed an updated slide that corrected an error in the previously circulated slide regarding the projected fund balance. "They sent an updated slide, but I can re-forward it to you," she said. The committee recorded that this correction addressed the only change in the materials.

Committee action: Proposal 2-86 was moved to the full council with the committee's "do pass" recommendation. The transcript records the committee voice vote but does not provide a roll-call tally. Councilor Brown said he would vote no (on the record) during the committee discussion, citing disagreement with unspecified budget elements; the transcript records his statement that he would vote no when the item comes before the committee.

Outstanding items: The transcript does not record the outcome of the union negotiations nor a finalized wage schedule or amounts; the library and the union are continuing talks. The corrected fund-balance slide was circulated by CFO Candice; committee members requested the updated materials be re-sent to ensure members have the corrected numbers.