Elkhart council adopts 2026 fire department pay schedule; officials say changes are budget-neutral

The Common Council of the City of Elkhart voted unanimously to adopt ordinance 26O06, which amends the city code to update the salary and compensation schedule for the Elkhart Fire Department for calendar year 2026.

At the council's second- and third-reading consideration, Megan Erwin, identified in the record as Chief of Staff, told the council that the positions and pay adjustments in the ordinance were planned and budgeted but had been inadvertently left out of the earlier ordinance. "They were planned and budgeted," Erwin said. "They were inadvertently left out of the ordinance."

Erwin also confirmed that the specialty positions listed in the ordinance are not new hires. "The position was yes," she said when asked whether a technical-rescue specialty had been in place in 2025. She told the council the change was cost neutral.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the adjustments were included in the existing budget and whether the specialty positions represented new headcount. Councilman Mishler asked directly whether the ordinance would cost the city additional money; Erwin replied that it was "cost neutral." After brief discussion and no public comment, the council approved the measure on a roll-call vote, recorded as passing nine to zero.

The ordinance was read into the record by the clerk on second reading and moved through final adoption by the council during the same meeting. The council did not refer the ordinance to committee; the clerk recorded the final roll-call tally as nine in favor and none opposed.

What happens next: The ordinance takes effect as provided in city code; no additional immediate council action was announced at the meeting.