[0:00] This teller and being held very dropped by name and up ice votes, regards will a musical ceremony.

[0:06] Yep, no problem.

[0:13] Yeah.

[0:13] Oh, I'm not going to be a nice person.

[0:14] I'm going to be a nice person.

[0:16] I'm going to be a nice person.

[0:21] Oh, I know.

[0:23] Yeah, I know.

[0:24] We're going to be left out.

[0:26] It put the rules out from the play, but then we take these things up into a place where all this.

[0:32] Oh, nice.

[0:33] That's right.

[0:35] Yeah.

[0:35] It didn't even kind of, uh...

[0:36] Thanks, sir.

[0:39] I always think it's a good thing to do things I know.

[0:41] I take them over to the...

[0:42] Yeah.

[0:43] At a grist mill, a 73rd Avenue, and me for Uber.

[0:46] It's, like, an abandoned neighborhood.

[0:48] Oh, it's just clean.

[0:52] Yeah.

[0:52] It's just clean.

[0:53] Yeah.

[0:53] I guess it's safe in, this is my granddaughter.

[0:57] I should think of mine.

[0:59] Yeah, I just, I would say wait.

[1:01] I don't think she's in the house.

[1:03] Yeah, she's in the house.

[1:05] She's always in the house.

[1:07] But she is pretty.

[1:08] She's just so smart.

[1:10] She's just like this.

[1:12] All right.

[1:13] It's my favorite community.

[1:15] I just obviously have an hammer with my dog,

[1:18] but this is because she's in the house.

[1:20] Yeah, I'm going to be there.

[2:21] down the line.

[2:24] Just like, you want to start with, well, we just start with an up start with it.

[2:36] Hey Ron, when we cut the part of the meat, and we call the meat in the order, would you want to start with a number one?

[2:43] We don't show up, we don't even have to do anything about it.

[2:49] It's like there's no run signal start, but number one is called.

[2:53] If you're cold with that, I think it's okay.

[4:03] to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, into this fault, with liberty and justice for all.

[4:12] Thank you.

[4:17] We do no call.

[4:18] Madam Secretary, please.

[4:20] First is your name.

[4:21] Your second is your normal group.

[4:23] Here.

[4:23] Third district, Charlie Brown.

[4:26] Fourth district, Pete with woman.

[4:27] Present.

[4:27] Third district, Christine C.

[4:29] Here.

[4:29] sixth district, Ted Zilcki.

[4:31] Here.

[4:31] Second district, Randy.

[4:32] Present.

[4:36] All right. Thank you.

[4:38] Correct.

[4:39] Okay, I will start our meeting with our financial director, giving us a update on our finances.

[4:49] Thank you.

[4:51] Yeah, overall, I think the financial hole for Lake County continues to head in the right direction.

[4:57] Test them into your decisions in your work, especially for the last three.

[5:00] We continue to target increases in the military service, and we've done that year after year, even despite some of the challenges in the Senate, but one this year, a hiccup with the media here, see.

[5:15] So that's all going on in the right direction. I think it needs to continue in the right direction, just simply based on how Senate Bill 1 may impact the county at some point. I use the word may, because clearly it appears that there's going to be adjustments to that legislation.

[5:30] this session, possibly a couple other sessions, so then most recently with them moving out

[5:36] the impact of the expiration of the current lead structure from expiring at the end of

[5:42] 27, pushing that out to the end of 28, should mitigate some of the revenue loss that was

[5:50] projected by the state on 28, so that'll help with some things that just kind of pushes

[5:55] it out to 29. And the main reason why that mitigates it is because in Lake County, we are the

[6:01] only county that uses 100% of our 1% is PTRC relief. And the longer that stays on, the less

[6:10] we'll experience cap loss, not just as a county entity, but all entities that are sending out

[6:17] property tax bills. So long as that stays intact, that kind of cushions some of that

[6:22] loss. So that being said, that's really all I have at this point.

[6:27] Okay. Any questions for staff? No questions.

[6:30] All right. We have some directives in front of us.

[6:36] Consonibular, if you would begin.

[6:38] I'm a person.

[6:40] Mid-more to take action on action one.

[6:44] See the 2027 budget from the 2026 original council approved budget for all

[6:50] having funds and the C-cell or all funds at a rate of June 6, 30, 20, 20, 6.

[7:01] Motion's been made in seconded.

[7:02] Any discussion?

[7:04] Well, colleagues.

[7:05] Yeah.

[7:06] Brewer?

[7:07] Yes.

[7:09] Yes.

[7:10] Yes.

[7:13] Motion passes six-one apps.

[7:15] Now, Chair, I move for approval to see the 2027 budget for all non-levy funded.

[7:23] I'm sorry, non-levy funds as requested by departments for 2027 excluding salaries and supplemental pay.

[7:30] Second.

[7:31] Motion's been made in seconded discussion.

[7:34] Royal colleagues.

[7:35] The board?

[7:36] Yes.

[7:37] Yes.

[7:39] Me, Meyer.

[7:40] Yes.

[7:42] Motion passes six, one, absent.

[7:44] I'm Chair, I make a motion to approve all salary increases for all collective bargaining agreement in contracting

[7:51] increases with a special note that the sheriff's police correctional officers and highway departments are in negotiations.

[7:59] Motion's been made.

[7:59] Seconded.

[8:00] Discussion?

[8:02] roll call.

[8:03] Yes.

[8:04] Yes.

[8:05] May I?

[8:08] Yes.

[8:09] Motion passes.

[8:10] One answer. Madam President, move to forward action for approve mandated salary increases

[8:19] for Indiana Supreme Court. For example, judges, prosecutor, deputy prosecutor, magistrate

[8:25] sheriff, chief, public defender, assistant chief, public defender, approve probation

[8:30] officer salaries for Indiana judicial conference schedule and tax base funds. Second.

[8:36] Motion's been made in seconded discussion, roll call, please.

[8:41] Yes.

[8:42] Yes.

[8:45] Yes.

[8:46] Yes.

[8:47] Motion cast the six one absent.

[8:49] Madam President, I move to approve requested amounts for 63730 property rental six one two five zero assessor certification six one two two nine board member per DM six one two one zero longevity six one two five one assessor per DM.

[9:06] six one-one nine six election day work.

[9:12] Second, second, second.

[9:13] This is been made in the second answer.

[9:14] Discussion?

[9:16] Well, call please.

[9:17] Do you mind?

[9:18] Yes.

[9:18] Hey, I'm.

[9:19] We're working.

[9:21] Yes.

[9:21] Linda Molder.

[9:21] Yes.

[9:23] Yes.

[9:24] Yes.

[9:24] Motion passes.

[9:28] So those motions one through five that were made.

[9:31] He's essentially just created the budget for 27 static to 26, with the exception to any

[9:39] contractual obligations of the party that he committed.

[9:44] So for those in the audience, the 27 budget is basically the same as the 26 budget

[9:49] to the exception of any contract that it's been more obligated for any statutory increase.

[9:54] and disaster increases, et cetera.

[9:57] So anything from this point forward is a...

[10:00] Modification or adjustment to that. There isn't a cross board raise or anything in there at this point in time, or anything else, it's basically what we're offering right now.

[10:15] So it's, I guess, now I guess anybody can do if they like.

[10:22] Would that was?

[10:24] Is there anything else that the board was done?

[10:27] Council wants to bring up at this time in the action?

[10:32] We will wish to have five to go.

[10:36] Well, we could at this time you could do number six if you want.

[10:41] We could have come to agree with a percentage, if we would agree to a percentage increase

[10:45] for the open of discussion.

[10:47] But we don't have to do that today.

[10:49] We don't have to do that today.

[10:50] We can do it the next meeting.

[10:50] We can continue to pull it through the budget, but for sure there's a lot of people here

[10:54] with a lot of button.

[10:55] And no problem.

[10:55] Yeah.

[11:01] This is two states that are first reading.

[11:06] Yeah.

[11:06] Two states that are first reading on the budget.

[11:09] And then we have.

[11:12] We have one more workshop.

[11:13] So two states first reading.

[11:15] Then we do have another workshop in October after the study sessions.

[11:19] And then the second reading is after our October meeting.

[11:23] So we have a couple of opportunities to make two weeks.

[11:26] If we don't have to look at it right now, I'm a president.

[11:31] Yes.

[11:31] So a question, Scott, I know there are several taxing entities here that may have reclust outside

[11:45] of general levy that they may already have funds for from other sources.

[11:51] Is that dealt with here or because some of its statutory requirement that they have to approach

[11:56] Council for a group of all of me to on a budget to budget outside of their levy with other

[12:01] revenues. So this was a focus on the entity of Lake County operations.

[12:07] When are we going to address some of those things with those? We can do it now.

[12:15] I can't. First reading there's your mace. Are you talking about like the fire?

[12:21] Anything that doesn't exist kind of within this government

[12:25] we're still tied to us, but to terrible.

[12:28] Yeah, so we have Lake Ridge, fire, and solid waste,

[12:31] Crown Point Library, and Crown Point Libraries here.

[12:35] So we can, you guys can have conversations about that now.

[12:39] And have those discussions or a lot of times

[12:41] we address those at the first reading and second reading?

[12:44] Right, okay.

[12:45] That's how we've done it in the past.

[12:46] It's okay, I just want to make sure that for folks

[12:49] that showed up here, they know that we're not ignoring it.

[12:52] That was request and it's not going to be kicked.

[13:00] I'd like to have some discussion about a 3% across board pay raise for everyone.

[13:04] I'd like to talk about that.

[13:06] See where we are financially.

[13:07] See what the impact is on the budget if we were to pose 3% across the board for all employees

[13:12] that aren't excluded from the motions made.

[13:15] What that bottom line cost would be to us and whether or not we can pull it off this year.

[13:19] Or is it possible we can go higher?

[13:22] We have to go lower for that percentage.

[13:23] It's a good time to talk about it, is there any good any time?

[13:28] Maybe a motion.

[13:30] Or we have a discussion.

[13:32] I thought it was just simply discussion.

[13:33] I didn't think I had a motion to discuss.

[13:35] It's correct me if I'm on.

[13:37] During a budget jump, I could just propose a question.

[13:41] Yeah.

[13:42] So I'd like to know what the impact would be at 3%.

[13:44] And then that would allow my colleagues to decide whether we can afford that or whether we could go higher.

[13:50] To keep it clean and easy, the way I look at it is every, the total payroll in the county is about a hundred million.

[13:59] So, every one percent is a million.

[14:02] So, three percent would be three.

[14:04] Now, there's benefits and things like that associated with it.

[14:07] But just to keep a conversation, fluid and directional.

[14:11] That works.

[14:16] Yeah, the overall growth portion for the county, you know, with all entities this year is 6%.

[14:23] So that means the levy can go up by that much.

[14:26] It doesn't mean you have to go up by that much, but also the levy is a smaller number compared to the budget.

[14:30] We rely on so much, so many miscellaneous revenue.

[14:33] So I don't know if that's 6% would be a, you know, a great move.

[14:39] because we still have utility costs and insurance costs another correct there are other competing

[14:45] interests we have we have bridge revenue that's going to take three million dollars so if you

[14:53] look at the seven percent on all of these ten million dollars so if you take three million away

[14:57] for bridges, 2 million for you.

[15:14] I would say I would say I would say flash, I would hit in budget. I know there are certain departments that

[15:23] are looking to give races. Maybe three percent even more. If we could look at how they're looking

[15:28] to do the offerings and whether they're looking

[15:29] to eliminate positions and incorporate it inside

[15:32] the overall and see what that number looks like.

[15:35] Definitely not against it.

[15:37] Just how did we get to that point there?

[15:42] Madam President.

[15:43] Yes, I think we also need to look at what I mentioned

[15:47] in the study session that Scott sent us some really excellent

[15:52] analysis in this year's budget of those crosswalks,

[15:55] as you call them, where we're really able to kind of analyze

[15:58] or to be approved that 26 budget, the adjustments that were made to that 26 budget, whether it be reorganizations or

[16:06] additional appropriations or kind of salary changes midstream and create a real comparative model.

[16:16] So I think we need to be detailed in this salary increase approach to actually include some of that.

[16:25] It's already occurred, because I mean, I know that we've all gotten the communication, I believe,

[16:32] from the assessor's office about her request of reorganization, it creates a pretty substantial

[16:37] difference within that office that deserves some vetting.

[16:41] And I know that there's some of that on the administrative side and some of our departments

[16:45] too, where the administrators are bumping themselves up quite a bit more than the rank

[16:50] file workers, so I think there's still a little more work to do on this than just a simple

[16:56] across the board.

[16:57] I agree with Ted's number is doable, but I think we've got some more details to

[17:03] walk through.

[17:04] Yeah, and it's not to call out this.

[17:06] Because there's other offices as well.

[17:09] I don't think it's an example.

[17:10] I'm sure we'll take it with more to work with.

[17:12] And I could address God to say make my motion at four, excluding those departments that

[17:18] either in negotiations or in the midst of a re-arch.

[17:22] And that went back that out.

[17:24] We can address those individuals concerns that you have, and it would make it, I think,

[17:29] quicker for our next meeting.

[17:30] We would have the numbers in front of us.

[17:31] And this is nothing permanent.

[17:32] I wouldn't want to mislead anyone.

[17:34] That number in that percentage can change until the second reading.

[17:38] But I wouldn't be willing to make a motion at 4% excluding those companies that are

[17:43] those departments that are currently under contract negotiations or in the midst of

[17:48] of a re-org so we can address those to my colleague Randy to address his issues about

[17:54] someone getting a compound at race of 4% plus a 10% race because of the re-org so if that would

[18:01] be acceptable and then that gives us a little something more to look at, or is it make it harder

[18:05] on you to do that way?

[18:07] I think no, I think that works, I think you could, I think you say here we'll do this cross

[18:15] and then, that's whatever it gets, and then, if you have one off

[18:20] re-orbs that you want to address, then address them separately, if that makes it.

[18:27] So, at a minimum, everybody gets the, we'll see, say, it's 4%.

[18:30] At a minimum, right now, there'd be a motion to give a cross-order reason

[18:34] to 4%.

[18:35] Excluding CDAs, and then, and leave it at that, and then, that's what everybody gets.

[18:41] And then if someone wants to, you know, push through a reorder, where they eliminate a position,

[18:47] which is a number of them, there's a handful of departments that eliminate a position,

[18:53] and then decide to recast that salary across their department.

[18:57] You guys can, you know, read that, look at the details and see if that makes sense.

[19:03] And then go from there.

[19:04] So if either back out before, for certain given their reorder.

[19:06] Right.

[19:07] Exactly.

[19:07] So it's not like double-do.

[19:10] No, double-do.

[19:11] Yeah, you can handle each or one at a time.

[19:15] But I also think we need to go back into the 2026 budget and look at what's already been done,

[19:22] where nobody got raises last year, but then somebody suddenly ended up getting raises.

[19:26] So it's significant.

[19:27] Yeah, it's a matter of I think we need to wait the current request in front of us, plus average

[19:34] out some of the stuff that happened mid-year last year.

[19:37] Yeah, because some other reorder, they do give significant reasons of both way above 4% or 10% or 10% or 15% I mean

[19:47] All right, I'm going to follow Scott's lead. I think this is a great plan. Man chair if I could please

[19:51] I'm going to make a motion to approve 4% paying increase with the

[19:55] exception obviously of those folks covered by CBA that are currently in contract negotiation

[20:00] I'll second it. There's a motion and a second. Well, is there a further discussion?

[20:12] Now with that, just to clarify, you know, and I know we're saying this, you know, because we could still change that.

[20:19] But still, we still reserve the right to go back and kind of look at what some of the rewards are and how that will affect it.

[20:27] We don't have to look at any of yours and just give four percent across the board and leave it at that.

[20:34] That's another comment, Madam President.

[20:37] I think that if you look at the last two budget cycles we've had a real focus on elimination of long-standing vacant positions.

[20:46] Some of the re-orders are addressing that.

[20:48] So our departments are kind of, in some cases,

[20:51] taking the bowl by the barns,

[20:53] looking at more skilled and credential positions

[20:56] for measurable results, type, budgeting rather than,

[21:01] well, that position's always been there,

[21:03] so we're gonna fund it and then we'll transfer it later.

[21:05] So we're trying to eliminate that practice.

[21:08] So I think that continuing in that vein

[21:13] of still analyzing some longstanding vacant positions

[21:17] along with those reports, if they help us reach those goals, I think that's great.

[21:23] With that said, anyone else have a comment?

[21:26] Also, some departments have had those long standing vacant positions,

[21:32] and it gives them the opportunity to do a re-ord,

[21:35] where some departments are smaller,

[21:37] and they don't have that opportunity either.

[21:41] They don't have vacant positions, because they're small departments,

[21:44] and they can't do those re-ord.

[21:46] So, some of those vacant positions have been around for quite a while, so I am...

[21:52] Just a smaller department, I think we've done a pretty good job, I think we took a little bit when we talked about veterans' offices and weeks and measures.

[21:59] We've addressed those individuals that are small. They don't have the means within.

[22:03] But I don't want to discourage, we are going to discourage improvements for the employees just based on a few small companies.

[22:10] Our small boss.

[22:11] Yeah. I just like fairness. I like treating I think we can do it. Okay. Any other further discussion?

[22:20] Rho call please.

[22:21] Yes.

[22:23] Yes.

[22:25] Yes.

[22:27] Yes.

[22:27] Most of passes.

[22:29] One absent.

[22:30] Okay.

[22:31] We went to the last one.

[22:32] We got to do five.

[22:34] We did five.

[22:36] We did five.

[22:37] We did five.

[22:37] Yeah.

[22:38] Yeah.

[22:40] Sorry.

[22:40] I mean, I wasn't kidding.

[22:41] That's all I know.

[22:43] Madam Chairman, I'll make a motion to put the,

[22:47] I don't place any remaining balance in reserve.

[22:53] So there was a second?

[22:54] Second.

[22:55] All right.

[22:55] I've just been made in seconded.

[22:56] Will help please.

[22:57] I'd rather discussion.

[23:00] No.

[23:01] Brewer.

[23:01] Yes.

[23:02] When will I?

[23:03] Yes.

[23:04] Yes.

[23:05] Yes.

[23:06] Yes.

[23:07] Yes.

[23:08] Motion cast is six.

[23:09] All right.

[23:10] Anything further?

[23:11] I just have a request now that we kind of have seeded this and put some of these

[23:16] motions into motion.

[23:18] Would you be able to send us an email scout?

[23:20] What this actually looks like now?

[23:22] So we can view it and kind of analyze it from there.

[23:27] So our next meeting is scheduled on Tuesday.

[23:31] First reading.

[23:32] I know Ray has sent out those ordinances, so please review them.

[23:37] I'm Chair, we wish everyone a happy Labor Day and motion to adjourn.

[23:43] I can wait for my next second.

[23:45] Motion passes please.

[23:51] Thank you.

[23:54] Should I get the bill for you?

[24:00] Thank you.

[24:04] Oh, thanks for your support.

[24:08] James, James, James.

Lake County Council-2027 Budget Workshop

Agenda

Transcript