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 through changes to salary calculations, health-insurance assumptions and electricity budgets, noting upward adjustments in electricity for departments such as fire, traffic and park maintenance tied to a pending Duke Energy rate case.

Deal identified several specific departmental changes: salary recalculations that significantly affected the engineering department after a review of nine positions; moving a parks education director position entirely out of the park operating fund and into the park nonreverting fund; and health-insurance adjustments in the controller—s, engineering and IT offices. He also said several capital purchase requests were removed from the general fund, including a facilities lift and truck and an inspector vehicle for the fire department, "but we will consider those purchases from alternate fund sources next year," Deal said.

A council member asked whether the removed vehicles were necessary because they were worn out. Beal, a staff member, described them as scheduled replacements or additional vehicles rather than emergency replacements. Councilors then moved and approved an amendment to Ordinance 2025-36; the amendment passed on a roll-call vote of 7-0, and the council subsequently adopted the ordinance as amended by the same margin.

The council also approved three salary ordinances. Ordinance 2025-37 sets salaries for appointed officers and non-sworn employees and implements a 3% across-the-board increase; Ordinance 2025-38 establishes 2026 pay for sworn police and fire personnel, including rank and specialty pay and longevity; and Ordinance 2025-39 adjusts compensation for elected officials, also reflecting a 3% increase. Each ordinance passed by recorded vote, 7-0.

No public comments or questions were recorded during the deliberations on the ordinances. The clerk was directed to collect signatures on the forms referenced by staff following the votes, and the meeting was adjourned.

Votes at a glance Ordinance 2025-35 (Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation appropriation) — motion to hear and approve on final reading; roll-call vote 7-0; outcome: approved. Ordinance 2025-36 (2026 city budget and appropriation) — motion to amend, amendment passed 7-0; subsequent vote on amended ordinance 7-0; outcome: approved as amended. Adopted budget: $100,761,391 (advertised: $101,242,041; net reduction $480,650). Adopted rate on submitted form: 1.0608; controller expects final rate ~1.0462. Ordinance 2025-37 (salaries for appointed officers and non-sworn employees) — motion to hear and approve; roll-call vote 7-0; outcome: approved. Includes a 3% raise. Ordinance 2025-38 (salaries for sworn police and fire personnel) — motion to hear and approve; roll-call vote 7-0; outcome: approved. Ordinance 2025-39 (salaries for elected officials) — motion to hear and approve; roll-call vote 7-0; outcome: approved. Includes a 3% raise for elected officials.

Context and next steps City Controller Jeremy Deal said staff will look for alternate fund sources to cover capital needs removed from the general fund if departments continue to prioritize those purchases. The council did not direct additional policy changes during the meeting; actions taken were formal adoptions of the budget and ordinance language on the record.