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Council largely holds 2025 rates, approves several salary and classification updates
Summary
During the Sept. 29 budget workshop, the council agreed to hold many account lines at 2025 levels (minus steps and a 3% across‑the‑board increase), approved specific salary and classification changes for engineers, department heads and certain supervisors, and set follow‑up for final salary‑ordinance actions before year end.
LaPorte County councilors used their Sept. 29 budget workshop to hold most department accounts at 2025 levels (excluding step increases and a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment previously approved) while approving targeted salary and classification changes for certain positions.
Key outcomes: the council instructed staff to retain base account levels at 2025 rates for most departments while reserving step increases and the earlier 3% raise; weights and measures adjustments were approved after Dakota Euler presented comparable wages from other counties. The council also discussed recruiting an engineer with a Professional Engineer (PE) license, directing HR to post the job through appropriate channels (including AIC) and to gather market data to inform the salary ordinance before final adoption.
Multiple department‑head and supervisory pay items were considered. The council approved a package that included a $5,000 certification stipend for CDL holders (see separate story) and approved a related increase for the highway department head so the head remains appropriately above subordinate pay. The body discussed converting some chief‑deputy positions to unclassified status and the implications for step increases; members requested evaluation‑committee review and confirmation of classification change procedures before finalization.
On several items members asked staff for follow‑up: provide missing packet pages referenced during the workshop, confirm the fund coding for new line items (particularly MVH/Motor Vehicle Highway), and circulate documentation (contracts and correspondence) tied to prior contract work referenced during debate. Council leaders scheduled finance‑committee follow‑up before finalizing the salary ordinance and the second budget hearing later in the month.
The council closed the session by confirming the schedule for public hearings on the budget and reminding departments that any material changes must be documented ahead of the formal vote.
