Official: Pay hike would be costly

Comptroller says Munster police salary increases would hurt town’s financial health

The Munster Police Department may get the additional raises the current Town Council promised it — if the council is willing to decimate the entire town budget for years to come.

Town Comptroller and interim Town Manager Patricia Abbott told the council during its Monday night meeting that its plan to give the department another $400,000 starting June 21 — on top of officers getting a salary bump at the start of the year — would have “serious ramifications for the town’s financial health.” The council ultimately voted 4-1, with Councilman Chuck Gardiner, R-3, casting the lone “No” vote, to approve on first reading the salary ordinance change.

The new increases would give First Class officers a 6% to 21% raise, bringing their average salaries to $88,000 from $84,000; it would give sergeants a 5% to 15% raise; and it would give police Chief Steve Scheckel who, according to the Indiana Gateway was paid $122,844.14 in 2023, a $25,000 raise. It would also remove the current car stipends — using them to help pay for the raises — but would give officers take-home cars instead.

Probationary and Second Class officers, however, won’t be included in the raises.

When Gardiner asked how the raises were calculated, Abbott said the department submitted them. Councilman Jonathan Peterson, R-5, added that he’d spoken to a Munster officer who said he was planning on moving to St. John because his “salary isn’t where it needs to be.”

The pay range for Patrol Officer Class I in St. John ranged from $86,000 to $110,000 in 2023, according to Indiana Gateway. For comparison, Munster’s 30 officers considered First Class and three years of employment were paid an hourly rate between $31.13 and $35.50 in 2023 and are

eligible for overtime, the town’s salary ordinance reads.

“He’s now staying because he’s anticipating this raise,” Peterson said. “I own my own law practice, and I have learned that (severe salary discrepancies) can cause sudden, catastrophic loss in staff, so if he’s talking to me, others are talking as well.

“This ordinance is to move us back into scale.”

Gardiner pointed out that the officers already received a raise and as a result, they heard from other town employees because of it afterward. To that end, Council President Dave Nellans, R-4, said that the town is looking into a salaries survey because “longevity is for all employees.”

Gardiner then asked again whether the department looked at other towns’ salary structures because at least three had structures similar to Munster’s, and Munster was “very competitive.” As to any reduction in force, Gardiner said Munster has had 23 officers leave since 2016: Three left for medical reasons, 10 retired, two relocated, and five resigned, while only three officers left for other departments.

“Munster is unique, and we want it to remain unique,” Nellans said, adding that the number of people applying to become officers has gone down drastically since 2020. He attributed the drop to the Black Lives Matter movement. “My dad asked me a long time ago, ‘What is your life worth?’”

Gardiner then asked what funds would finance the police raises, to which Abbott said the town’s tax increment financing report came in earlier Monday. At first glance, she said the town would have to cover the $400,000 in police raises using the TIF funds, and that would last about a year.

“This ($400,000), that’s what we gave all the employees. Can we look them in the eye (after this)?” he said.

“Doubtful,” Abbott said. “(The police raise) will have a serious impact. It will cut into our reserves long-term, and it will mean making some very hard decisions in the future.”

“There are serious questions here,” Gardiner said, adding that he supports the police department.

Peterson then used Robert’s Rules of Order to cut off Gardiner’s questioning and have the council vote. When it came time for Councilman Joe Hofferth, R-2, to vote, he initially paused and said “Pass” before he eventually voted for the ordinance.

The new salary ordinance will be put up for second reading during the May 9 Town Council at 7 p.m. at Munster Town Hall; the meeting typically would fall on May 6, but preparations for the May 7 primary election led the council to reschedule the meeting.

Four Munster residents spoke against the town getting involved in the School Town of Munster’s potential purchase of the Center for Visual and Performing Arts. Clerk-Treasurer Wendy Mis said the town received 49 emails in favor of it and four against it.