Schererville opens first of three public hearings on 2026 budget; council uses 5% levy estimate

The Town of Schererville on Sept. 10 held the first of three public hearings on the proposed 2026 municipal budget, Clerk-Treasurer Michael Troxell told the council.

Troxell said the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance had approved a 4% levy increase for 2026 and that the town used a 5% levy increase as a budgeting estimate. He described the meeting as the first of three hearings and called for any oral or written remonstrances; the council took no public remonstrations at this session.

The council voted 5-0 to authorize the Clerk-Treasurer to prepare the documents needed for final action on the budget at a subsequent meeting scheduled for Oct. 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Why it matters: The levy and budget process determines the town’s property tax rate and spending for municipal services in 2026. Troxell told the council that budget adoption follows a three-step process: the hearings, adoption and then the Department of Local Government Finance’s 1782 notice later in the year.

What was said: Troxell summarized the timetable and the use of the 5% estimate for planning. He told the council the second approval would occur on Oct. 8 and the final department notice typically appears in December. There were no public comments recorded during this hearing.

What happens next: The council will review final budget documents at the Oct. 8 meeting and then accept the DLGF notice when issued. The transcript does not record the final adopted 2026 budget or final levy rate; that will be determined in subsequent proceedings.