Lafayette Common Council adopts 2026 budget, approves 3% pay increases and transportation appropriation

The Lafayette Common Council voted unanimously to adopt the city—s 2026 budget and approve related salary ordinances, including an appropriation for the Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation, during its meeting. Each ordinance passed on recorded votes of 7-0.

City Controller Jeremy Deal said the initial advertised budget was $101,242,041 and that council—s adopted version reduced that amount by $480,650 to $100,761,391. "After revisiting all available information, consulting with the mayor, we were able to bring the budget down a little under half a million dollars," Deal said. He told the council he used a conservative net asset value in calculating the adopted rate of 1.0608 but expects the ultimate rate to be closer to 1.0462.

The council first approved Ordinance 2025-35, an appropriation to the Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation under Indiana Code 6-1.1-17-20, on final reading; the roll-call vote recorded seven ayes and no no votes. The council then took up Ordinance 2025-36, the general 2026 city budget and appropriation ordinance. Deal walked…