County GovernmentWednesday, November 4
Vigo County Council passes its 2027 budget, pending state review
The Today in Terre Haute team
If you pay Vigo County taxes, here's where the 2027 budget stands. The Vigo County Council on Monday passed its budget of $112,132,839 after an eight-hour meeting. It depends on whether the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance rules everything was done properly.
Separately, WTHI reported that the council approved a budget 4-2 at a meeting billed as a workshop, and more than two dozen taxpayers filed a formal challenge. County Auditor Larry Hutchings said he questioned the vote right away and told News 10, "It didn't feel right. We've never done that before."
Four of seven councilors voted to approve the budget
Vigo County Council vote, Oct. 26
4–2
Approve the 2027 budget at a meeting billed as a workshop
Yes 4
- Weger
- Allsup
- Gentry
- EllisCouncil President
No 2
- Wilson
- Anderson
Absent 1
- Thompson
Source: wthitv.com
View as table
| Member | Seat | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Vicki Weger | Yes | |
| Nancy Allsup | Yes | |
| Randy Gentry | Yes | |
| Steve Ellis | Council President | Yes |
| Brenda Wilson | No | |
| Brad Anderson | No | |
| David Thompson | Absent |
- Raise in the budget: a flat $4,000; commissioners wanted 5%
- Notice rule: Open Door Law requires 48 hours' public notice
- Adviser Jason Semmler: plan would draw reserves down sharply
The budget approved at the workshop vote ran a General Fund deficit
- $124 million
- in total spending, about, in that budget
- $64.3 million
- in the General Fund
- $12 million
- roughly, the General Fund deficit for 2027
Source: wthitv.com
Council President Steve Ellis defended budgeting the full amounts up front, saying it should mean fewer additional appropriations during the year.
Sources: Terre Haute Tribune-Star, wthitv.com