At its last meeting of the year Tuesday evening, the Porter County Council bestowed some early holiday season giving to themselves and their fellow elected officials with a $2,000 raise in 2026 by a vote of 4-3.
Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, explained his dissenting vote. “I heard all last year how dire the financial situation is, and now miracles happen,” Rivas told his colleagues. The council had previously approved a $2,000 raise for all county employees for 2026, excluding elected officials as well as Sheriff’s Office employees who have a separate raise structure.
“We know what we signed up for. That’s almost a 10% raise,” Rivas said. He added that such a sum seemed unfairly disproportionate, while prosecutors prosecuting high-level offenders are seeing that $2,000 as a much smaller percentage of their total salaries.
Council Vice President Red Stone, R-1st, and Councilwoman Michelle Harris, R-At-Large, joined Rivas in voting against the raise, but did vote to adopt the 2026 salary ordinance in which it was included. Rivas was the sole dissenting vote against adopting the salary ordinance because of the raise for elected officials.
Council President Andy Vasquez, R-4th, brought up the question of the raise, saying he had received some calls. “There were a couple of elected officials who thought they had worked very hard,” he said.
The raise for elected officials will cost the county $45,163, which includes PERF and FICA. Since the amount was not originally budgeted, it will have to be approved as an additional at the beginning of 2026. That does not include the prosecutor or judges, as the county only pays $5,000 of their salaries, with the state making up the rest.
County Council members, who are considered part-time, were budgeted to be paid $23,189 in 2026 and will now receive $25,189. County commissioners, also part-time, will now receive $59,301.
Other elected officials’ salaries will range from $50,320 for Coroner Cyndi Dykes on the low end to $190,513 for Sheriff Jeff Balon on the high end. The majority of elected officials’ wages are based on the 2022 wage study, which compared county positions to their counterparts across the state, according to Chief Deputy Auditor Dave Wichlinski.
The front of the Challenge Coin issued by Porter County Veterans Services for combat veterans who receive decision letters granting them disability ratings. (Shelley Jones/for Post-Tribune)
In other business, Veterans Service Director Khristian Molchan presented Vasquez with a Challenge Coin, kicking off the program made possible by a donation from a Porter County veteran. The coins will be presented to veterans in Porter County upon receipt of a decision letter granting them disability status, with preference going to combat veterans.
Vasquez is a veteran of the Marine Corps. He served in the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) from 1969 to 1972 and is in the process of pursuing reinstatement of his disability status following its granting and rescinding over the course of various administrations.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
