The Bremen Town Council held a public hearing Monday afternoon to take comments on the proposed 2023 budget.
According to Indiana Gateway, the total budget is about $7.7 million which includes about $2.9 million for the General Fund, $79,000 for Local Roads and Streets, about $916,000 for Motor Vehicle Highway, $366,000 for Emergency Ambulance/Medical Services – Fire, over $379,000 for Parks and Recreation, $200,000 for Cumulative Capital Development, $1.6 million for Redevelopment Commission, almost $507,000 for American Rescue Plan Act Funds, and other special funds.
There were no public comments on the budget.
Council President Michael Leman asked Clerk-Treasurer Janet Anglemyer how much of a percentage was included in the budget for wage increases and she indicated three percent. He inquired about a larger increase and she responded that a four percent increase could figured in without any cuts, but anything beyond that would need to be discussed with department heads.
Leman asked the department heads in attendance during Monday’s meeting if they would be willing to crunch numbers in order to give a larger wage to employees for retention and attraction purposes and they all agreed. With that, Leman asked the department heads to figure another five percent increase for wages in their budgets which would bring a total of an eight percent increase in wages in 2023.
The department heads will work on those percentages with Anglemyer which will mean cuts in other parts of their budgets. The council indicated that it is important that they focus on their current employees and make wages more attractive for potential employees.
