The Gary Common Council is still waiting to vote on several budget items after its Tuesday meeting.
The council postponed votes on the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority and salaries and general budget. Council members also passed budgets for the Gary Redevelopment Commission and Gary Public Transportation Corporation at its Tuesday meeting.
Councilwoman Lori Latham, D-1st, was absent Tuesday.
In a motion Tuesday, Councilman Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large, said the council will have a ways and means committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2 to discuss the remaining budget items. The council will also hold a special meeting Nov. 2 to vote on the budget items.
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According to documents from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, the deadline for all taxing units to adopt its 2027 budgets, tax rates and tax levies is Nov. 2.
In previous council meetings, Whisenton and other council members have expressed concerns with the budget, which has nearly a $10 million deficit. According to city documents, Gary’s revenue has decreased by about $10 million.
City Controller Chenika Beck said at the Sept. 29 ways and means committee meeting that the city is making cuts where they can to make up for the budget shortfall.
Council Vice President Darren Washington, D-at large, also expressed concerns with city finances following the Aug. 11 derecho.
“We were already told by the administration that we have over $8 million in costs (due to storm damage) that we’re trying to get back from (the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency) that might not come back in the next couple of years,” Washington said.
Washington has also expressed concerns with how 2025’s Senate Enrolled Act 1 will impact Gary’s budget numbers.
Also from the state’s 2025 legislative session, the city is required to pay more than $12 million to East Chicago and Michigan City because of a state comptroller mistake that was supposed to address the financial burden after the move of Majestic Star casinos. Money will be withheld from state comptroller funds for 10 years.
The council unanimously approved the GPTC budget Tuesday, which is about $18.3 million and mostly made of federal grants. The department is looking to upgrade facilities and vehicles next year, which led to a larger budget, David Wright, director of planning, marketing and grants, previously said.
The council also approved the redevelopment department’s budget in a 6-1 vote, with Washington as the lone vote against. Redevelopment Executive Director Christopher Harris said the budget is identical to its 2026 numbers.
The commission’s proposed tax base has decreased going into 2027, with just under $69,000 expected to rollover, down from about $138,000 in 2026. However, the commission’s property tax revenues have increased from $175,885 in 2026 to $184,421 in 2027. Harris’ salary will stay the same, he said.
Washington told the Post-Tribune that he voted against the budget because he couldn’t justify paying Harris for the proposed salary, which is just under $92,370.
In other business, the council approved a grant of $750,000 for Edgewater Health and Community HealthNet from the Gary Board of Public Works and Safety. Of that money, $250,000 will go to Edgewater and $500,000 to Community HealthNet.
The organizations expressed a need for emergency funding following the Aug. 11 derecho, with representatives for both saying the funds are needed to continue providing health care services.
Dr. Danita Johnson Woods, president and CEO of Edgewater Health, said the organization was closed for about two weeks due to the derecho and following power outages. Edgewater continued to pay employees during that time, and they now have a “serious cash flow problem.”
Dr. Janet Seabrook, CEO of Community HealthNet, said her organization is in the same boat following the derecho and subsequent power outages.
The council approved the use of funds in a 6-1 vote, with Washington voting against. The ordinance was introduced Tuesday night, and council members suspended the rules to vote on it at this week’s meeting.
Washington told the Post-Tribune that he thinks the money needed to go through committee meetings and allow council members more time to look at the funds.
“I didn’t support it because it was last minute,” he said. “That should have gone through committee … and (Johnson Woods and Seabrook) should’ve come to the council and the public to provide some very specific details on their request.”