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Finance committee approves claims docket; controller to provide midyear riverboat and wheel-tax figures
Summary
The Michigan City Finance Committee unanimously approved a claims docket that included a riverboat fund payment for a vehicle lease buyout and rainy-day fund retirement payments; the city controller said INPRS catch-up payments are ongoing and will provide detailed midyear revenue comparisons at the next meeting.
The Michigan City Common Council Finance Committee unanimously approved a claims docket on June 16 that included a riverboat fund payment covering a 2023 Chrysler 300 lease buyout and several rainy-day fund disbursements tied to Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) catch-up payments.
The committee, led by the chair, read the docket items aloud and approved the claims after a motion by Councilman Beatatri and a second from Councilman Dr. Cora. Committee members recorded no public comments during the hearing and the motion passed without recorded opposition.
City Controller Smith provided a short update on the INPRS payments, telling the committee that “payments are still ongoing. I think we're well over halfway to the end and just a few more employees to reach out and work out that situation.” Smith said officials will continue listing the catch-up payments on future dockets until the matter is resolved.
Controller Smith and committee members also reviewed the committee’s statement of cash position for the riverboat and rainy-day funds. The chair read the balances aloud and Dr. Cora asked whether the combined total was approximately where the city normally stands at midyear. Committee members agreed the answer depends on monthly riverboat distributions and current expenses; Dr. Cora asked staff to provide a comparison of riverboat receipts for the first six months of 2026 versus the same period last year and requested an update on wheel-tax collections at the next meeting. Controller Smith agreed to provide that information.
The chair also noted that the meeting agenda included a third and final reading of a resolution and that the retiring controller would be brought forward to say goodbye later in the session. With no further business the committee moved, seconded and voted to adjourn; the meeting was declared adjourned at 6:13 p.m.
Clarifying details from the transcript: the chair read specific line items including a riverboat fund payment of $32,529 for the 2023 Chrysler 300 lease buyout and a Millennium Fountain demolition amount read as $140,400. The transcript’s rendering of some totals and the full claims-docket total was unclear; the controller agreed to provide precise figures at the next meeting.
