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Hammond mayor frames 2026 budget amid $30 million revenue shortfall; council takes initial actions
Summary
Mayor Thomas McDermott presented the city's proposed 2026 budget and warned that Hammond faces roughly $30 million in lost revenue from casino shifts and state changes. He defended maintaining public-safety staffing, confirmed previously offered police and fire hires will be honored despite a hiring freeze, and said nonunion city staff would get a
Mayor Thomas McDermott told the Hammond Common Council during public hearings that the city faces roughly $30 million in revenue losses over several years tied to changes in gaming revenue and state legislation, and said the proposed 2026 budget is designed to preserve public-safety commitments while looking for other revenue options.
The mayor said the city already committed to nearly 20 police recruits — 9 currently in the academy and offers to about 10 others — and that those hires will proceed despite a recently enacted hiring freeze. He also confirmed contractual raises for unions were built into the budget: police 3.5 percent this year,…
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