Matt Larimer, November 11, 2025

Update: Council member Ellis has just released a statement that they will amend the proposal to remove the council’s salary increase.

During yesterday’s meeting of the Vigo County Council budget committee, council members Vicki Weger and Steve Ellis approved a proposal to increase the salaries of most elected officials, including a nearly 100% increase for the Vigo County Council.

Vigo County Assessor, Kevin Gardner, spoke addressing concerns about the inequities he perceived in the council’s current plan to adjust salaries. In that plan non-elected county employees would have their salaries increased to a statewide midpoint.

Gardner explained to the council that, “elected officials are also employees of the county, so we should be treated at least as well as the rest of the staff.” He also brought up what he felt was a lack in the council’s own salary.

The discussion following Gardner’s comments revolved around the grade levels and salaries of local elected officials. During that discussion, Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer also spoke about the inequity for elected officials in the proposed plan.

In response to this discussion council member Steve Ellis suggested a plan where most of the county’s elected officials would be considered the same grade, but have their salaries increased in the same way as other county employees.

That proposal would lower the pay grade of County Commissioners and the County Auditor, and it evoked an immediate response from Gardner who said he had never seen a local official have their pay grade decreased, and that is not what he was requesting.

Ellis then commented that he was willing to forgo a pay raise for himself, to which Gardner commented that he thought the council’s salary should be doubled considering that they’re currently only making $20,000, but a statewide study showed it should be closer to $60,000.

Weger immediately responded that for those concerned about giving themselves a pay raise they have to remember that it’s not just a pay raise for them, but for future elected officials and, “we have to think about the future.”

Weger then suggested doubling the council’s salary and offered to donate her raise to charity, and Ellis offered to donate his raise to the commissioners, to which Switzer responded, “We’re not asking for this, we don’t want your donated salary.”

Commissioner Switzer then expressed frustration that the plan proposed by Ellis would give an $8,000 raise to some officials and only a few hundred dollars for the commissioners. At that point the council decided to take a recess in order to review the changes.

After the recess Vigo County Human Resources Director, Jordynne Gackle, reported that according to the statewide study the recommended pay grade for the county council and coroner had a base salary of $66,662.

Ellis then made a recommendation that the council be paid at 60% of the recommended pay grade, which would result in the council’s salary nearly being doubled going from $21,189 in 2024 (according to Gateway) to $39,997.

In response, Switzer questioned why the commissioners and auditor were being punished, when the proposal made by Ellis is not what anyone was asking for, which is for all elected officials to be brought to the statewide midpoint.

Ellis then commented that if he couldn’t make everyone happy he would propose no increases for any elected officials. That proposal died due to the lack of a second, and then Ellis moved to adjourn the meeting, but was informed a decision had to be made.

Ellis repeated his previous motion, which was seconded by Weger. Weger and Ellis then voted yes, and Anderson voted no. This report is extremely condensed, for the full discussion visit the link above. Salary discussions begin at approximately the one hour and eight minute mark.