The Gary Common Council approved its first ordinance of 2025, which amended the initial grants and special revenues salary and operating budgets for the city.
The ordinance passed unanimously. Seven members were present, with Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, absent.
Vice President Lori Latham oversaw the meeting as acting president after former President Tai Adkins resigned following the Jan. 21 meeting to become Calumet Township trustee.
A caucus for the council’s Fourth District seat is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. in Gary.
City Controller Celita Green presented an overview of the budget proposal, including a general investigator position in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The full-time position was approved to pay $39,355 in 2024, and the city proposed the same salary for 2025. The city also asked for $11,938.18 in various categories for the EEOC, including workmen’s and unemployment compensation.
The budget also asks for a $39,685 salary for the supervisor investigator position for Gary’s Fair Housing program. The requested salary is the same as 2024. Other categories, including workmen’s and unemployment compensation, ask for $12,044.39.
Council members unanimously amended the ordinance to withdraw two departments from the budget, choosing to vote on certain numbers at a later date.
The Health and Human Services department asked for $70,000 for a full-time project manager position in the Opioid Settlement division. In 2024, the department had a part-time project officer position in the department, but it was not included in the 2025 budget.
Latham had concerns about how the position would be paid after the grant funding runs out.
“There are probably massive cuts of federal funding and state funding coming to local governments in almost all areas,” Latham said. “You may have to put someone who’s currently working there in that position to just brace ourselves for (what could happen).”
Veronica Collins-Ellis, executive director of the city’s health department, told Latham that the funding is already confirmed. Latham still encouraged her to look within the health department for the position.
Latham also asked for a program plan and a job description. Councilman Darren Washington, D-at large, asked if Green and Collins-Ellis could come to the next meeting with that information so the council could vote.
The amendment also removed the vote on the warming and cooling center department’s budget in the community development fund. Gary council members wanted a program plan for how the centers will be used.
“I think it’s going to be critical that we see you all have a program plan … so that we have a bit more confidence that we’re keeping everybody safe,” Latham said.
