Commissioners send recommended 3% salary increase to County Council in Form 144 letter
August 18, 2025 | Monroe County, Indiana
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The Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 14 voted to send a letter to the Monroe County Council that recommends a 3% salary increase for county employees for the 2026 budget, excluding positions with statutorily mandated salaries.
Commissioner Thomas explained the board’s statutory role in providing comment on Form 144 salary estimates: “Each year we are presented with, form 1 44 as a budget estimate of proposed salaries and wages. Our role in this process by state statute is to provide a recommendation to Monroe County Council for consideration prior to setting the salaries and the budget for 2026.” Thomas said the consumer price index shows roughly a 3% increase over the past year and that from 2021 to 2024 there was a period of higher inflation; she characterized the recommendation as an attempt to help the county remain competitive with staffing retention.
“From 2021 to 2024, there was a period of very high inflation and cost of living increases...we're still about 5 percentage points behind where we should be,” Thomas said. The board said it will transmit the signed letter to council members by email.
Why it matters: the commissioners’ recommendation is advisory; County Council sets final salaries and the budget. Commissioners emphasized staff retention and thanked county employees for their work.
Commissioner Thomas explained the board’s statutory role in providing comment on Form 144 salary estimates: “Each year we are presented with, form 1 44 as a budget estimate of proposed salaries and wages. Our role in this process by state statute is to provide a recommendation to Monroe County Council for consideration prior to setting the salaries and the budget for 2026.” Thomas said the consumer price index shows roughly a 3% increase over the past year and that from 2021 to 2024 there was a period of higher inflation; she characterized the recommendation as an attempt to help the county remain competitive with staffing retention.
“From 2021 to 2024, there was a period of very high inflation and cost of living increases...we're still about 5 percentage points behind where we should be,” Thomas said. The board said it will transmit the signed letter to council members by email.
Why it matters: the commissioners’ recommendation is advisory; County Council sets final salaries and the budget. Commissioners emphasized staff retention and thanked county employees for their work.
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