The Howard County Council approved its 2025 budget and a new salary ordinance during a continuation of the county's budget session.

An official reading of ordinances identified Ordinance/Resolution 2024-HCCO-38, listing total levy funds at $55,948,342, an adopted tax levy of $30,802,165 and an adopted tax rate of 0.7598. The council also recorded the Howard County Solid Waste budget (2024-HCCO-39) with an adopted budget of $1,408,748 and levy $1,225,413 (tax rate 0.0317), and Ordinance 2024-HCCO-40 for Harrison Township with an adopted budget of $474,645 and levy $312,753 (tax rate 0.1236). Speaker 5 asked for formal approval of those items and the 2025 Convention Visitors and Tourism Commission budget.

Speaker 6 moved "that we approve these 3 ordinance plus a, formal approval of the 2025 convention visitors and tourism commission budget. So a, b, c, and d." The motion was seconded by Councilman Faulkner and Councilwoman Blake. The council took a voice vote; members responded "aye," and the motion passed.

The council then considered Ordinance 2024-HCCO-41, the 2025 salary ordinance. Speaker 5 presented the ordinance and Speaker 6 moved to approve it "as presented." The motion was seconded by Councilman Faulkner and Councilwoman Lake. The council approved the ordinance by voice vote.

Under the adopted salary framework the council approved a blanket 3% increase for the workforce, with targeted additional adjustments for certain departments and roles identified as below market. Speaker 1 described the limit for additional adjustments as a maximum of 10% total ("3% plus 7% max") for eligible employees. The salary study and related data used to identify those adjustments were credited to Commissioner Jack Dodd and staff including Carrie Renneker and others.

During council comment, multiple members emphasized employee retention and using comparative data from peer counties and cities (including Bartholomew, Boone, Clinton, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Kosciusko, Madison, Marion, Tippecanoe and Tipton, and cities such as Kokomo, Peru, Westfield and Carmel) to set pay ranges. Speaker 7 noted the use of multi-year financial projections produced by Baker Tilly to inform salary and capital decisions.

All substantive motions taken at the meeting were approved by voice vote; the record shows the motions were seconded and passed but does not provide a roll-call tally. The council adjourned at the conclusion of the session.