The city clerk is asking for a pay raise and the Fishers Freedom Festival is requesting almost double the amount of cash received from the city.  Those were the big items discussed Thursday night at the City Council Finance Committee meeting.

The Fishers Freedom Festival is moving from its long-time home at Holland Part to the downtown Nickel Plate District in 2017.  Jennifer Kehl, the top official at the festival committee, told the council panel there are many logistical costs to move the festival site, resulting in the requested increase in city cash support.  The festival is asking the city to provide just over $161,000 in 2017.  That does not count the “in-kind” services from city departments, which has been valued at about $40,000.

Ms. Kehl is also the City Clerk and is asking the council to raise her current $55,000 annual salary by $20,000 next year.  Kehl says her job as clerk was to be a 15-hours-per-week position, but she claims to be at City Hall nearly every day, with many more than 15 hours clocked per week.  She also presented data that clerks in comparable cities are paid much more than her current salary.  Kehl also asked for a 3% pay increase for her staff, in line with other city employees.  Also, the deputy clerk of the court does not have health insurance, which Kehl described as an oversight, and hr wants health benefits provided for that employee.

Clerk Kehl also asked for a “heavy duty” copying machine because the equipment at the City Controller’s office becomes overwhelmed, especially at meeting times.  This sparked a discussion by the committee members of possibly transitioning council and Board of Works business to electronic data to cut down on paper and copying costs.

City Judge Dan Henke presented a flat 2017 budget for council consideration, with one exception.  The judge is asking to be covered by the city’s health insurance plan.  Henke is currently covered under a self-employed insurance plan he pays for himself.  City Contoller Oscar Gutierrez told committee members the average cost of providing a family health insurance plan is $25,000 a year, but it could cost the city more or less, depending on health claim experience.

Members of the Finance Committee decided to take these proposals under advisement and talk more about them in their next meeting, to be held before the October 19th City Council session.  The City Council meeting will feature a public hearing on the budget proposals.