Vigo County Council approves salary-schedule amendment and multiple appropriations, rejects reappropriation for warming center
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Summary
The council unanimously approved an amended 2026 salary schedule clarifying deputy coroner and election board stipends, approved several appropriations including pretrial screener and assessor funding and a prosecutor relocation request, approved $700,000 for community corrections benefits 6-1, and rejected a Terre Haute warming-center reappropriation 3-4.
The Vigo County Council voted on a package of administrative and budget items during its meeting.
Amended salary schedule: The council approved an amended ordinance adopting the 2026 salary schedule and compensation policies, including a clarification that deputy coroner pay is expressed on an annual basis (reverting from a daily/hourly format) and that election board stipends will be divided into two semiannual payments. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
Pretrial screeners: The council approved additional appropriation 20-26-5 to fund the salary adjustment for two pretrial screeners in the county general fund so their pay matches grant-funded amounts. Clerk roll call recorded the motion passed 7-0.
Community corrections benefits: Council debated an additional appropriation (identified in the agenda as 20-26-13) to cover an approximately $700,000 shortfall in community corrections employee benefits. One council member noted the amount equals about 22 percent of community corrections’ operating budget and illustrated comparative inmate-cost scenarios to frame the request. After discussion, the appropriation passed 6-1.
Assessor reassessment service agreement: The council considered appropriation 20-26-14 to fund a reassessment service agreement. Members asked whether appropriating now versus encumbering to earn investment interest would be appropriate; councillors agreed to appropriate the funds and defer the payment schedule to the department head. The motion passed 7-0.
Prosecutor’s office relocation: The prosecutor’s office requested an amendment to a previously submitted appropriation to account for two transferred desks and lowered the requested amount; the auditor confirmed the adjusted total at $10,001.98 and the council approved the appropriation 7-0.
Warming center reappropriation: Jesse Tohill, director of public works and safety for the City of Terre Haute, asked the council to reappropriate unencumbered funds for a warming center the city operated for 34 days at an expense the presenter cited as about $40,800. The council voted 3-4 against appropriation 20-26-16; the motion failed.
Why it matters: The votes move several departmental requests forward and clarify pay and stipend administration across county offices. The community corrections and warming-center votes drew the most policy-focused discussion; the community corrections appropriation passed while the warming-center reappropriation did not.
What’s next: Several of these appropriations will be reflected in county accounting per auditor procedures; the council and departments will follow up on implementation timing and encumbrance questions raised during debate.