(Greensburg, IN) – Greensburg City Council passed the city’s 2027 budget on Tuesday night, but the vote came after a lengthy discussion.
The approved 2027 general fund budget totals $10,803,087, with total operational funds exceeding $15,000,000. Over 70 percent of the general fund is dedicated directly to the Greensburg Police and Fire departments.
“While our core commitment to keeping Greensburg safe and growing has not wavered, the landscape under which we operate has fundamentally changed,” city officials said in a written statement. “State-level legislative changes under Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1, 2025) are beginning to take effect. We are projected to collect less revenue annually, eventually culminating at $1.6 million less annually in 2029 and continuing forward. Facing these externally imposed revenue reductions alongside inflation and rising operational costs, our team was forced to make exceptionally tough choices this year to protect our community’s essential services.”
Council President Jamie Cain said he wanted to eliminate a Police department position while it was vacant instead of waiting for the 2028 budget process, when such a decision would be more difficult if the position were occupied.
He proposed eliminating the position and not increasing trash tipping fees, which would otherwise go up $2.00 a month.
Cain’s colleagues agreed, and it was noted that the Fire Department positions were reduced when City Council decided earlier this year not to rehire any of the positions covered by the Honda Indiana Auto Plant agreement, which was created over 18 years ago and expired in June.
The cost of the services provided was not fully covered by Honda’s payment.
Council and the Board of Works, knowing that the impacts of SEA 1 would be present in the 2027-and-beyond budget cycle, froze hiring in GFD and those positions were not filled, and layoffs were not needed.
While the goal was to restore GFD to 27 full-time firefighters, the impacts to revenue did not allow for that. The 24 firefighters currently on staff will remain, and the city says it will adapt to a slightly smaller roster.
As for the Police Department, Mayor Joshua Marsh said the position was already funded in the ’27 budget and that residents would pay an additional $24.00 per month in sanitation fees to have another officer on the force.
Cain made a motion, seconded by Kevin Fleetwood, to approve the 2027 spending plan with an amendment to eliminate one police officer position and not increase tipping fees.
Voting “yes” were Cain, Fleetwood, and Daryl Tressler; “No” votes were cast by Dr. Rodney King, Mark Carman, Vietta McKenzie and Darrell Poling, so the motion failed (four against, three in favor).
Cain made a second motion to approve the budget ordinance as written. The motion passed 6-1, with Fleetwood casting the lone “no” vote.
Meanwhile, city leaders are encouraging residents to contact state lawmakers to urge them to reform SEA 1 to lessen its impact on cities, counties, towns and schools.
