The Valparaiso City Council adopted the 2023 budgets for the city and Valparaiso Community Schools Monday.
The school corporation is looking to increase its budget to almost $93 million, to cover increased costs in salaries, insurance and benefits. The city is looking to spend up to $43.3 million and is also anticipating increases in wages and insurance costs.
Under the proposed 2023 salary ordinance, many city employees would get a four-percent raise for the second year in a row. But Council Member Robert Cotton asked whether some should get an even bigger increase, to more quickly bring them in line with a recent wage study.
"And I was thinking maybe it would be more fair and equitable to forestall the additional amount for those who are already there or perhaps a little bit beyond, to make certain that we are catching the people up as best as possible," Cotton said.
However, City Administrator Mike Jessen said that turnover has been minimal, and those who do leave rarely cite pay as a reason.
The approved budgets now go to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance for final review.