Finance committee approves $2.24 million in claims, previews 2026 salary ordinances

The Michigan City Common Council Finance Committee approved $2,244,626.66 in claims during its Dec. 16 meeting and reviewed riverboat-related fund balances totaling $4,525,565.84.

Committee members voted by voice on a motion to approve the Riverboat Boyd claims docket, which included claims for Wreath and Riley Construction Co Inc totaling $236,626.66 and city claims of $1,808,000 and $200,000. The motion to approve was made by Mister Beatry and seconded by Doctor Core; the committee approved the motion by voice vote with no nays recorded and the moderator stated, “The motion carries.”

The committee heard the Finance Office’s year-to-date statement of cash position for riverboat and related funds through Dec. 16, 2025: a Riverboat fund ending balance of $3,095,427.92; an additional fund (type 2238) ending balance of $1,430,137.92; and a grand total of $4,525,565.84.

The moderator reviewed items on the City Council agenda that relate to finances. Two ordinances scheduled for second reading would establish salaries for the City of Michigan City Fire Department and the Michigan City Police Department for calendar year 2026. The meeting also identified a resolution, introduced by Councilman Dabney, proposing increases and decreases to certain appropriations within the General Fund (account 1101) for 2025; no committee comments or formal committee vote on that resolution were recorded during the Finance Committee meeting.

Public comment was opened and closed with no speakers recorded, and no committee members offered additional comments before the meeting adjourned.

The Finance Committee did not record individual roll-call vote tallies for the claims approval; the action was taken by voice vote. The agenda items reviewed will proceed to the full City Council for consideration on the evening’s council agenda.