News Story

It was a jam-packed St. Joseph County Council meeting that started off with the final vote on the 2026 budget.

WNDU 16 News Now last reported this in September when we told you their general budget was estimated to be around $90 million.

On Tuesday night, that budget was approved.

The work to finalize it was a challenge this year since Senate Bill 1 cut local property tax.

WNDU also last reported the controversial topic of a $30,000 proposed raise for Bill Schalliol, the county executive director of economic development.

Well, Council President Dan Schaetzle tried to address that.

“I came into this meeting with an amendment to work with them to get rid of that raise,” Schaetzle said. “I offered the amendment and all four of them sat on their hands, they would not second the amendment.”

With that said, again, the budget passed and Schalliol will be getting that raise.

Even though the amendment was not considered, Schaetzle says passing this balanced budget is an accomplishment.