West Lafayette council adopts 2025 budget, approves tax levy and staffing additions

The West Lafayette City Council on Oct. 7 approved Ordinance 30-20-24, adopting the city's 2025 budget and the accompanying property tax levy after an amendment by substitution.

Peter Gray, the city controller, said the amended budget "does include a 3% cost of living increase, on the wages, on the medical insurance as well as the dental and the vision." He told council the administration reduced the budget from the first reading, and that the city is budgeting to use about $2,000,000 of cash reserves in the coming fiscal year while estimating roughly $1,000,000 in general-fund cash at year-end.

Gray listed other highlights: business insurance remains budgeted at 10%; the budget creates a Communications Department and adds a housing director; and it adds a net 11 full‑time positions at an estimated ongoing cost of about $660,000 and related benefit and retirement payouts of roughly $230,000. He asked council members to sign the document that must be submitted to the state if the ordinance passed that night.

Councilors pressed on sustainability of drawing reserves. Gray said the reserve draw is planned "just for this year" and that the administration will seek grants or other revenues and adjust projects and staffing in future years if revenues do not materialize.

After public comment - including a resident request to consider sidewalk and capital needs in neighborhoods amid development revenues - council approved the ordinance as amended by roll call. The ordinance passed on its second reading and will be submitted to the state per statutory filing deadlines.

Next steps: the controller's office will file the signed budget documents with the state and departments will begin implementing staffing and program changes included in the adopted budget.