Poseyville council adopts 2026 budget, salary ordinance and new gas reconnect fee

The Poseyville Town Council voted unanimously Oct. 15 to adopt its 2026 Budget Ordinance and a 2026 Salary Ordinance and to approve an ordinance increasing reconnect fees for the town gas utility.

Council President Justin Rutledge presented Ordinance No. 2025-10-15-02, the 2026 Budget Ordinance, and Ordinance No. 2025-10-15-03, the 2026 Salary Ordinance. Clerk‑Treasurer Jodie Rankin told the council the salary ordinance includes the employee rate changes adopted as presented and an increase in the employee health‑insurance contribution from $0.01 per pay period to $5.00 per pay period. On a motion by Randy Rankin and a second from Mike Baehl, both ordinances were adopted on roll‑call votes recorded as unanimous.

Rutledge also presented Ordinance No. 2025-10-15-01 (second reading), which amends usage, rates and charges for the town gas utility. Under the ordinance, effective Nov. 1, 2025, a $75 reconnect fee will apply per utility when crews are dispatched to disconnect service after an issued shut‑off notice. The council adopted that ordinance by unanimous roll call.

During the meeting the council also approved its proposed 2026 meeting calendar, moving the October meeting to Oct. 20, 2026, to accommodate school fall break, and approved the 2026 payroll calendar. The measures passed on motions from council members and were recorded as unanimous votes.

The council opened the meeting with approval of the Sept. 9, 2025 minutes and routine financial dockets, including claims, payroll and utility adjustment dockets and the September bank reconciliations.

The council said the adopted budget and salary ordinance will take effect according to the dates stated in each ordinance and that the gas reconnect fee will take effect Nov. 1, 2025.