Council approves $5,000 CDL certification pay for highway employees; budget impact discussed

LaPorte County councilors approved a $5,000 annual certification payment for county employees who hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) as an incentive tied to highway operations.

The proposal presented at the Sept. 29 budget workshop would pay $5,000 annually per eligible employee, distributed over 26 pay periods (roughly $192.31 per pay). The auditor and staff advised creating a separate Motor Vehicle Highway (MVH) line item to track the bonus so it would remain distinct from base salary and not automatically increase the permanent salary grid.

Staff reported 48 employees currently hold CDLs, a figure members used to estimate the program’s maximum outlay. At 48 employees, the stipend would total roughly $240,000 if fully paid to every CDL holder; council members noted the number of eligible employees could change during the year and discussed that departments may return for additional MVH appropriations if the bonus pushes account limits.

Council approved the motion to add the stipend as a separate MVH line item. Members discussed operational details — whether all holders actively use a CDL in their daily duties, whether mechanics or other staff who seldom drive would qualify, and how to handle sheriff’s‑garage employees or other classifications — and requested attorneys and HR to review job‑description and classification implications before implementation.

Several members also moved to extend the stipend to certain foremen and to add a corresponding $5,000 increase to the highway department head’s account to maintain separation between the head and the number‑two; that package was approved later in the workshop. Prior to implementing the bonus, staff were instructed to confirm account coding, report anticipated expenditures to the auditor, and return if MVH appropriations require adjustment during the fiscal year.