Budget Workshop Minutes of the County Council of Huntington County, Indiana

The Huntington County Council met in budget workshop on the 15th day of September 2025, in the G.A.R. Room, at the Huntington County Courthouse, Huntington, Indiana, at 8:00 A.M. for the purpose of reviewing and determining each department's budgets.

Council Members Present: Kendall Mickley, Terry Miller, Shane Bickel, Jamie Hotchkiss, John Stoeckley, Brian Warpup, and Keith Eller.

Council President Kendall Mickley called the meeting to order. There were no requests from the public to speak.

Council reviewed and discussed each department's budget requests.

President Mickley explained how he worked with Auditor Jill Landrum to gather estimated revenues for the remainder of 2025, and all of 2026. They also participated in a zoom call with the DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) representative to discuss the 2026 budget requests, the max levy, estimated revenues, and 2026 projections for Local Income Tax (LIT).

President Mickley also mentioned how the interest income had seen an increase, and the County was still waiting on Prisoner Room and Board reimbursements from the State for the second half of 2025, and YTD 2025. Also, the DLGF had indicated that LIT for 2026 is projected to be lower.

Council decided that the Commissary Clerk's wages paid from the General Fund should be reimbursed from the Commissary Fund again in 2026.

Council also discussed the Public Safety (PS) LIT Fund 1170, and the Correctional Facility LIT Fund 1233, and outlined the expenses that would be paid from these funds in 2026.

They also determined that the entire 2017 Courthouse Bond payment will be made from the Cumulative Courthouse Fund 1140 in 2026.

There was a consensus by Council members to increase the maximum pay amount of the qualifying positions by 3%. Not all employees receive the maximum pay amount, and their wages are determined by department head and Elected Official discretion.

The Budget Workshop meeting concluded at 10:28 a.m.

ADOPTED THIS 13th DAY OCTOBER OF 2025.