HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026 Council Budget Hearing - Legal Department FiledCITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
Department of Law
August 20, 2025
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
2026 Department Overview
Provide a high-quality partnership with City departments
• 9 Attorneys
• 1 Corporation Counsel, 1 City Attorney, 1 Senior Assistant City Attorney, 6 Assistant City Attorneys (1 vacant)
• 1 has been with the City for over 10 years and 4 for over S years!
• Combined 146 years of experience ; average 18 .25 years , mean 13 years , range is 11-29 years
• Combined 56 years practicing at the City ; average 7 years , mean 6 years , range is 1-11 years
• 1 Paralegal
• Claims Manager (currently vacant)
• 2 Administrative Assistants
• 1 Director of Legal Administration
• Paralegal, OVB supervisor, Administrative Assistants' supervisor, Office Manager, Payroll Clerk, Legal DFO Account expert,
and currently processing claims
• Over S years with the City
Manage Ordinance Violations Bureau operations
• 1 Clerk
• OVB DFO Account expert, highly knowledgeable regarding fines and how to pay them
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
2026 Legal Budget Overview
Expenditure Summary
Includes only City-c ontrolled funds and excludes interfund transfers/allocations
2023 2024 2025 2026 % change Notes
Actuals Amended Budget Budget YOY
Legal Department 1,445,38 1,807,34 1,813,88 0.4%
Legal Department 1,445,38 1,807 ,343 1,813,88 0.4%
Salaries & Wages 1,042 ,11 1,25 8,928 1,3 18 ,86 4 .8% 1 -Di d n't bu dge t fo r
interns $48k , Ad ded
Fringe Benefits 340 ,20 462 ,075 471 ,001 1.9% OVB Clerk in F Y25
Supplies 3 ,3 12 ' 9 ,000 4 ,000 -55.6%
Education & Train ing 17 ,518 5 , 15 ,000 4 ,7 50 -68.3%
Other Servi ces & Charg es 38 ,2 71 41 , 40 ,500 11 ,2 70 -72.2%
Printing & Advertising 1,140 --100.0%
Profes s io nal Services 914.49 2 7 ,368 10 ,000 --100.0%
Repairs & Maintenanc e 200 --100.0%
Travel 3,057 3 ,89 1 10 ,500 4 ,000 -61.9%
Bad Debt 0.0%
Grand Total 1,445 ,38 1,807,343 1,813 ,88 0.4%
ill 2025 2026 Va [i a □!,;e
13 14 1
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
Legal Budget Overall Increase 0.4% from 2025
(But Not Really)
$
*
Increases in Salaries & Wages and Fringe Benefits are due to inclusion of OVB Clerk in
actual numbers (position has been paid from the Legal budget since 2024 -$55,367)
Additional increase in Salaries & Wages due to residency bonuses ($6,000)
Eliminated Summer Interns decreasing Salaries & Wages by $32,000
Actual 4% decrease from Salaries & Wages and Fringe Benefits had OVB Clerk been
budgeted in Salaries & Wages in 2025
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
If OVB Clerk was includ ed
2025 Adop t ed 2026 Proposed
410001 Sa l ari ed Wa ges 1,279,116 .00 1,3 18,863.00 39 ,747 .00 3%
410005 Interns 32 ,000 .00 (32,000 .00) -100 %
1,3 11 ,116 .00 1,3 18 ,8 63 .00 7,747 .00 1%
411001 FI CA 100,3 51.00 100,944.00 593 .00 1%
411004 PERF 143,335.00 147 ,787.00 4,45 2.00 3%
411007 Un employment 1,535 .00 1,583.00 48 .00 3%
411008 Hea lth Insur/Wellne ss/Di sa bility 237,446 .00 2 11,546.00 (25,900 .00) -11 %
411009 Life Insur ance 1,680.00 1,68 0 .00 0%
411014 Pa rental Leave 4 ,221 .00 4 ,352.00 13 1.00 3%
411206 Ce ll Ph one 66 0 .00 660 .00 0%
4 89,228.00 46 8,552.00 (2 0 ,676 .00) -4%
FTE 14 14
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
Further Reductions
$
Reduced Supplies budget by $5,000 (55.6%)
Reduced Education & Training budget by $10,250 (68.3%)
Reduced Other Services & Charges budget by $29,230, although Westlaw subscription shifted to I& T
budget, so the actual amount reduced is $3,884 (roughly 9%)
Reduced Printing & Advertising, Professional Services, and Repairs & Maintenance budgets to $0
each, for a total reduction of $11,340 (100%)
Reduced Travel budget by $6,500 (61.9%)
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN Total Actual Reductions: $84,974 (3.1%) 5% = $90,367 *'
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN
2026 Strategic Initiatives
Continue to Revise Municipal Ordinances
'V~ SBFD and SBPD Collective Bargaining Negotiations
Kl! Continue Efforts to Reduce Outside Legal Spending