The Fishers City Council Finance Committee passed a recommendation for the full council to raise the pay of council members from $12,000 to $19,000 per year.  The vote was 3-1, with Selina Stoller casting the no vote.  She preferred to create a system of expense reimbursement for council member expenses.

Meanwhile, City Clerk Jennifer Kehl had requested her $55,000 per year salary be increased by $20,000 in 2017.  Finance Committee members instead recommended a 3% increase in her pay, in line with the wage increase for city employees.

Ms. Kehl was clearly unhappy with the committee’s action on her pay, and asked members of the panel whether it is fair for council members to give  themselves a large pay increase and not her. Once the meeting concluded, the City Clerk immediately left the room.

Kehl also heads up the Fishers Freedom Festival and did not receive committee support for an increase in funding for that event.  She had asked that city financial support of the local summer event be nearly doubled for 2017 to $161,000 in order to finance the festival’s move from its long-time home at Holland Park to the downtown Nickel Plate District.  The panel voted to keep the city’s cash contribution of the festival at the same amount as 2016 – $85,000.  Kehl was not available for comment after the meeting, but Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath told LarryInFishers that the festival should go on without major problems with that funding level.

City Court Judge Dan Henke had asked the council committee members to keep his 2017 pay at the same rate, but to add him to the city’s family health insurance plan.  Finance Committee members voted not to add a health insurance benefit for the judge, but will increase his pay $200 per month in order to help underwrite his insurance premiums. Judge Henke works about 2 days a week at the city court, and runs his own law practice. Judge Henke buys insurance as a self-employed person.

Mayor Scott Fadness told reporters at a recent budget briefing that he is asking for no pay increase for 2017.

The Finance Committee’s votes are recommendations.  Only the full council may vote on the final version of the city’s 2017 budget.  There will be a public hearing on the budget, including the salary ordinance, at the September 19th City Council session, set for 7pm at City Hall.  The final vote on the 2017 budget is expected at the October council session.

(NOTE: Earlier versions of this story said the Finance Committee will recommend raising council salaries to $19,500.  Finance Committee Chairman Eric Moeller tells LarryInFishers after  talking about a number of figures, the committee decided on a $7,000 raise for council members to $19,000.  LarryInFishers regrets the error.)