The Michigan City Common Council Finance Committee on Sept. 16 approved $498,293.15 in claims and reviewed first-reading budget and salary ordinances ahead of the full council’s public hearing. The committee met at 6 p.m. and voted unanimously to forward the claims to the City Council for final approval.

The vote approved claims totaling $498,293.15. The claims package included $289,758.15 to Reith-Riley Construction Co., Inc.; $8,535 to Schneider (listed in the claims); and $200,000 allocated to Michigan City Economic Development for annual invoices. The committee’s chair moved the approval and it was seconded by another committee member; all committee members present voted “aye.”

The action matters because the claims draw on local riverboat and rainy-day fund resources that the committee reviewed alongside the city’s current cash position. The committee reported a riverboat fund ending balance of $5,146,123.95 and a rainy-day fund ending balance of $1,167,490.42, for a combined ending balance of $6,313,614.37 as of Sept. 16, 2025.

Committee members spent additional time outlining the 2026 budget process. The City Controller said the advertised budget must be posted in the state’s Gateway system at least 10 days before the public hearing, which will occur at the next City Council meeting, and described the next steps of second reading and possible adoption after the readings and hearing. “The adopt the advertised budget will be advertised in Gateway at least 10 days before the public hearing, which is the next council meeting,” the City Controller said.

The committee also reviewed ordinances on first reading that would set salaries and wages for city officials for calendar year 2026. The first-reading figures presented were: mayor annual salary $93,280; city clerk $76,252.73; and common council members $15,734.68. Those ordinances remained on first reading at the Finance Committee meeting and were not adopted; the committee noted that the full council will handle the public hearing and subsequent readings.

There were no public comments during the meeting. The committee adjourned after the agenda items were completed.

The claims approval will be presented to the full City Council at its next meeting for formal acceptance. The advertised budget will move forward to the public hearing at the next council meeting as described by the City Controller.