Merrillville approves additional appropriation to cover police overtime

Council held and closed a public hearing on ordinance 25-38 and then approved the appropriation on second reading.

Trista Hudson summarized three items in the additional-appropriation ordinance: most notably, funds intended to cover a year’s worth of police overtime (the ordinance was advertised at $500,000 but Hudson said staff actually needed about $420,000 of that appropriation); a supplement to the Motor Vehicle Restricted Fund to cover payroll due to increased road work; and a CCD contractual-services appropriation. Hudson recommended leaving the ordinance as advertised, noting any unused portion would remain in the cash balance.

Council took no public comments on the appropriation during the hearing and later adopted ordinance 25-38 on second reading by roll call (six in favor). Town staff and councilors noted the town’s total cash balances and that many funds are already obligated by bond closings; the general fund remains the most flexible element of the town’s cash position.

The ordinance authorizes use of undesignated cash for the listed purposes and leaves unused appropriations in the cash balance.