Martin County Council Approves Salary Ordinance Updates and Budget Amendments

The Martin County Council reviewed updates to employee compensation policies and several budget amendments for the outgoing and incoming fiscal years. 

In a special session, council members discussed changes to the county’s salary and wage ordinance, including the replacement of the insurance opt-out provision with a one-time $4,000 compensation stipend. Officials noted the stipend is not guaranteed in future years. It may be used by full-time employees and elected officials, including those enrolled in Health Savings Account (HSA) plans, to help offset insurance costs. Questions regarding pre-tax contribution limits and processes will be discussed further to provide guidance to employees with an HSA plan. 

The council approved the 2026 Salary and Wage Ordinance (Ordinance 25-53) with clarifying language updates, as well as an amendment to correct omissions from earlier approvals. The amendment added stipends that were already addressed in previously approved budgets but had not been formally listed in the salary ordinance. These included items related to the prosecutor’s office and federally funded emergency preparedness programs. Additional budget actions included approving a line-item transfer within the Health Department budget to cover year-end expenses. 

In other business, Council President Warren Albright and Vice President Monty Gregory were unanimously elected to retain their positions. Council appointments for 2026 were also confirmed. The Sherriff’s salary will be set according per Indiana code, which requires the County to compensate at a rate equal to 50% of the minimum salary paid by the state to a prosecuting attorney in the county. The annual salary of $91,756.50 will take effect in 2027. 

In the 2026 budget, fund numbers were adjusted to correctly reflect accounts with federal grants. Budgets for Highway Department staff salaries were moved to a less restrictive fund for accuracy in billing. A series of other appropriations were approved, including the salary for a supplemental Probation Officer and part-time Jail Treatment Coordinator. Budget decisions for ambulance services were tabled until the next meeting on February 2. 

For more information on these and other updates, visit the Martin County Indiana Courthouse Facebook page. 

 - Drew Hasselbring