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Home My WebLink About09-09-2026 Personnel & Finance Budget Meeting Minutes (approved)-------------~--------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. T IRADO, CITY CLERK PERSONNEL & FINANCE Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Councilmembers Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: SEPTEMBER 9, 2026, 5:30 P.M. Sheila Niezgodski, Karen L. White, Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers (arrived late), Rachel Tomas Morgan, Caz Margenau None Heidi Beidinger, Canneth Lee (arrived late), Sharon McBride* Bianca Tirado, Jasmine Jackson, Veronica Pitt-Payne, Bob Palmer Scott Ruzkowski, Carl Buchanon, Kyle Willis 2027 South Bend Police Department (SBPD) Budget Overview 2027 South Bend Fire Department (SBFD) Budget Overview Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&repo=sbend&mediaid=413494 Please note the attached link for the meeting presentations: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=412347&dbid=0&repo=sbend Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski called to order the Personnel and Finance Committee meeting at 5:30 P.M. Before proceeding with the presentations, she acknowledged the recent Stadium Flats fire and commended the coordination between the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) and the South Bend Fire Department (SPFD) in their response. She expressed gratitude for the work of both departments in keeping the City safe. 2027 SBPD Budget Overview INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Jasmine Jackson Mall hew N cal G-IlEF D EPUTY O1Y QERK / G-IlEF OF STAFF D EPUTY O1Y QERK / DIRECTOR OF POU CY Veronica Pitt-Payne D IRECTOR OF SPEGAL PROJECTS EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERM ENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 I p. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov <t:;tV'li.t,t4 ~~ CITY OF SOUTII BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Scott Ruszkowski, Police Chief, SBPD, 701 West Sample Street, South Bend, IN 46601, presented the 2027 Police Department budget. He noted that the budget currently includes a two percent (2%) placeholder salary increase for sworn officers. He stated that the department has reached a tentative agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), however, the agreement is pending at least three (3) presentations to the membership followed by a ten (10)-day voting period. He said the outcome will be reported to the Council before the budget deadline. Non- sworn staff will receive a three percent (3%) salary increase. The total police budget of approximately fifty-five-point-seven million dollars ($55,700,000) includes nearly six million dollars ($6,000,000) in the pre-1977 pension plan, which is reimbursed by the state. Excluding the old pension, total 2027 SBPD budget is approximately forty-nine-point-seven million dollars ($49,700,000). Chief Ruszkowski described the department's current staffing levels, which include two-hundred forty-seven (24 7) sworn officers and fifty-six (56) non-sworn employees. He noted that in practice, the department is operating with approximately two hundred thirty (230) sworn officers actively working due to FMLA, military deployment, workers' compensation, and off-duty injuries. He added that there are currently eight (8) candidates at the academy. He then presented the salary and wage detail. Salaries and wages for sworn officers and non-bargaining staff total twenty-four million two-hundred-twenty-six thousand, one-hundred-seventy dollars ($24,226,170). The local income tax (LIT) is projected to come in at six-million five-hundred- forty-thousand three-hundred-nine dollars ($6,540,309) for 2027, a decrease from the seven- million three-hundred-eighty-thousand dollars ($7,380,000) in 2026, resulting in a higher portion of sworn officer salaries coming from the general fund. The department is budgeting for two- hundred-fifty-four (254) sworn positions, reduced from two-hundred-fifty-seven (257). He explained the Special Pay line item which includes longevity pay, compensation for special assignments such as SWAT, canine, hostage negotiation, and critical incident response, and shift differential pay for afternoon and midnight shifts. He stated that 2027 overtime has been budgeted at approximately two-hundred-eighty-thousand dollars ($280,000) based on known events including concerts, Fusion Fest, and Notre Dame home games. Notable changes to benefits include a state-mandated increase in the Public Employee Retirement Fund (PERF) contribution rate and lowered health insurance costs. He explained that the PERF increase will cost the City an additional seven-hundred-eighty thousand dollars ($780,000), while health insurance costs have been reduced from thirteen-thousand two-hundred dollars ($13,200) to ten-thousand two- hundred-ninety dollars ($10,290) per officer. Chief Ruszkowski then summarized the department's other expenses. He noted that gasoline prices are expected to increase this year. Funding for three (3) positions at the Special Victims Unit and Family Violence Unit, paid to the county at approximately two-hundred-ninety-thousand dollars ($290,000) annually, comes from the Other Professional Services line. Capital purchases for 2027 include two (2) new undercover vehicles and thirty (30) police vehicles at seventy-four- thousand dollars ($74,000) each, with approximately thirty-four-thousand dollars ($34,000) of each vehicle's cost attributable to equipment and technology including transport vestibules, mobile data terminals, computers, body cameras, lights, and sirens. He noted that the department maintains its fleet for eight-to-ten (8-10) years before replacement. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION \ INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 1 f. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF soml"l BEND I Or~ICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Vice Chair Karen L. White asked whether Notre Dame still provides financial support to offset the cost of police coverage for its events. Chief Ruszkowski confirmed that Notre Dame does provide a contribution, typically split between the Police and Fire Departments, though he did not have the exact dollar amount. Committee Vice Chair White asked Chief Ruszkowski about his confidence in the overtime estimate. Chief Ruszkowski replied that overtime is inherently difficult to predict because unexpected absences due to injury, FMLA, and military deployment must be covered at double time under the current contract. Special events also generate double-time overtime. He noted that the minimum staffing requirement of eighteen (18) officers per shift, combined with an active events calendar, makes it difficult to further reduce overtime. Committee Member Rachel Tomas Morgan asked what the ideal number of sworn officers is. Chief Ruszkowski stated that the ideal sworn officer count was two-hundred fifty-seven (2 57) but was reduced to two-hundred fifty-four (254) for the 2027 budget. The department currently has two-hundred forty-seven (24 7) sworn officers but operates with approximately two-hundred thirty (230) due to attrition and leave. He noted that it takes approximately eighteen (18) months from the start of the hiring process for a new officer to be deployed independently, making it difficult to predict and manage staffing gaps Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked about Real-Time Crime Center staffing levels. Chief Ruszkowski confirmed that the center currently has nine (9) staff members including a drone operator, and they are in the process of hiring one ( 1) more. He said the center is not yet operating twenty-four seven (24/7), but it is close. The department also has approximately twenty- nine (29) officers who are FAA-certified drone operators and four (4) trunk-mounted drones available for deployment at any scene. Citizen Member Caz Margenau asked about the significant decrease in legal services in the proposed budget. Chief Ruszkowski explained that the budget reflects three-hundred-fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for 2027 legal costs, covering ongoing tort claims, court proceedings, and contract negotiations. Citizen Member Margenau asked about the "Round One (1 )" column in the budget summary. Kyle Willis, City Controller, with offices on the second (2nd) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601 , clarified that the column labeled "Round One (1 )" in the presentation should have been labeled "Proposed Budget" and represents the full projected amount for 2027. Council President Canneth Lee asked where any unspent salary budget goes. Chief Ruszkowski confirmed that unspent salary dollars return to the General Fund. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574235.9221 1 f. 574.235.9173 J www.southbendin.gov @ CI'IY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CrfY CLERK Council President Lee asked Chief Ruszkowski to speak to the effectiveness of the Real-Time Crime Center. Chief Ruszkowski spoke about the Drone as First (1 st) Responder program, which launched on March 9. He said the drone has responded to eight-hundred-thirty (830) calls for service, arriving on scene first (1 st) twenty-eight percent (28%) of the time, and locating subjects involved in the incident fifty percent (50%) of the time. Council President Lee asked how the Real-Time Crime Center has used technology other than drones. Chief Ruszkowski stated that Flock license plate reader technology was used one hundred twenty- six (126) times this year, assisting in five (5) of the department's seven (7) murder cases and enabling SBPD to locate stolen vehicles, felony warrant subjects, and missing persons. Council President Lee acknowledged that some residents have a negative perception of Flock technology. He said it is important for residents to know how it is helping keep the City safe. Chief Ruszkowski said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that license plate reader use in public spaces does not violate the Fourth ( 4th ) Amendment. He spoke about the guardrails SBPD has in place to prevent misuse of the system, noting that these have become national best practices. Councilmember Dr. Heidi Beidinger asked who has access to data collected through the Flock system. Chief Ruszkowski stated that full system access is limited to vetted sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and analysts. Patrol officers do not have query access to the system and only receive automated alerts. He said the department conducts monthly random audits of all users and additional audits at the discretion of internal auditors, as well as semi-annual and annual reviews. He said SBPD's policies are being considered for codification in Indiana state law. Councilmember Dr. Beidinger acknowledged there is a lack of public understanding around this technology. She asked what the company itself does with the data. Chief Ruszkowski confirmed that per the City's contract with Flock, SBPD's data is not shared or sold beyond the law enforcement alert network. He reiterated that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this is not a Fourth (4th) Amendment violation. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked about benefit line items, including the tool allowance and clothing allowance, that appeared blank in the proposed 2027 budget. Chief Ruszkowski said those items are likely captured under the contract agreement rather than as individual budget line items, but he will confirm that information. He stated for the record that if any officer is found to have misused or abused any department system, including Flock, he will immediately seek that officer's termination. Committee Member Tomas Morgan noted that she and Chief Ruszkowski have been working to schedule a Health and Public Safety Committee meeting to provide updates on technology and a review of policies. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall f 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip 574.235.9221 i f. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov {~ CITY OF SOUTII BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Ken Glowacki, Director of Department Finance, with offices on the second (2 nd) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601 , addressed Committee Chair Niezgodski 's question about benefit line items. He said these small benefit items are not broken out as individual budget line items but can be funded through transfers from other accounts as needed. He confirmed that these are contract expenses. Committee Chair Niezgoski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Chair Niezgodski then moved on to the next presentation. 2027 SBFD Budget Overview Carl Buchanon, Fire Chief, SBFD, 1222 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601 , presented the 2027 Fire Department budget. He stated that SBFD is fully staffed at two-hundred fifty-six (256) firefighters working twenty-four (24) hour shifts, averaging fifty-six (56) hours per week. A minimum of sixty-nine (69) firefighters per day is required to staff the department's eleven (11) fire stations, which operate eleven ( 11) engines, four ( 4) aerials, one ( 1) heavy rescue unit, and seven (7) ambulances. The department also has eight (8) non-bargaining staff. He provided a breakdown of the twenty-five-thousand nine-hundred sixty-nine (25,969) total dispatch runs in 2025, which included one-hundred forty (140) structural fires, eight-hundred twenty-seven (827) vehicle accidents, and one-thousand one-hundred eighty-eight (1 ,188) alarm activations without fire. He highlighted the significant shift in departmental experience levels since 2022, as the percentage of firefighters with more than ten (10) years of experience has decreased from seventy- three percent (73%) to fifty-one percent (51 %) in this timeframe. He attributed this shift to attrition, deferred retirements, and departures for other employment. He noted that SBFD's operating expenditures are partially offset by emergency medical services (EMS) revenue, which is projected at six-million one-hundred-forty-thousand dollars ($6,140,000) for 2027. The county also pays SBFD an annual charge for EMS coverage. River rescue tuition, received from firefighters training at the department's nationally recognized river rescue school, provides additional revenue. Chief Buchanon presented the proposed 2027 budget of forty-seven-million six-hundred- seventeen-thousand six-hundred seventy-one dollars ($47,617,671). He stated that EMS revenue offsets approximately twenty percent (20%) of SBFD operating costs, and four-million five- hundred-forty-six-thousand seven-hundred dollars ($4,546,700) in pre-1977 pension expenses will be reimbursed by the state. This results in a net expense of approximately thirty-four million dollars ($34,000,000). He noted that the 2027 firefighter contract is currently being negotiated, and the proposed budget currently includes a placeholder salary increase of two percent (2%). Non-bargaining staff will receive a three percent (3 %) increase. Overtime is estimated at two- point-seven million dollars ($2,700,000), and Special Pay includes compensation for paramedic certification, length of service, and specialized training in water rescue, hazmat, and other skills. As mentioned during the SBPD budget presentation, the PERF employer contribution rate will increase to twenty-six-point-five percent (26.5%) in 2027 as directed by the state. Health insurance costs decreased from thirteen-thousand two-hundred dollars ($13 ,200) to ten-thousand two-hundred-ninety dollars ($10,290) per firefighter, consistent with the reduction seen across all City departments. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Or. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 466011 p. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ~"'~ (~} CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ~ Chief Buchanon highlighted key items in the department's Supplies and Professional Services budgets. The gasoline budget increased due to rising fuel costs. He noted that medical and safety supplies for ambulances are a significant and non-negotiable expense, and SBFD obtained certification from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to carry controlled medications after local hospitals changed their restocking policies. The largest service cost is repairs to equipment and fire stations, most of which is performed by Central Services staff. He explained that the Other Professional Services line includes the cost of annual physicals and cancer screenings for firefighters, noting that firefighters face a nine percent (9%) lifetime cancer rate and a fourteen percent (14%) higher cancer risk than the general population. In addition to proactive screenings, he said the department provides each firefighter with two (2) sets of turnout gear to reduce carcinogen exposure. Chief Buchanon then presented the capital replacement schedule. He explained that frontline engines are typically in service for sixteen to nineteen ( 16-19) years, ambulances for fifteen ( 15) years, and aerials for twenty (20) or more years, with a twenty-four to thirty-six (24-36) month production cycle for new equipment. The department currently has one (1) apparatus that is thirty (30) years old, and the major capital purchase for 2027 is an engine to replace the 1996 model year engine. Additional 2027 purchases include cardiac monitors and power stair chairs for ambulances. He noted that new engines now cost close to one-million dollars ($1,000,000) and new aerials are approaching two-million dollars ($2,000,000). The department attempts to purchase pre-owned quality equipment when possible to manage costs, though this comes without manufacturer warranties or custom specifications. Committee Vice Chair White asked whether recruitment and retention remain a major concern and whether the department is at full strength. Chief Buchanon stated that the department is currently at two-hundred fifty-two (252) firefighters, having recently completed a recruit class of sixteen (16). He noted that in 2025, the department was down nearly twenty (20) firefighters, creating significant overtime pressure. The training process takes twenty-two (22) to twenty-six (26) weeks before recruits can be deployed independently, meaning staffing gaps take months to close. He said recruiting has taken a strong step forward and the department's younger workforce is physically fit and motivated. Committee Vice Chair White asked Chief Buchanon about his confidence in the overtime estimate. Chief Buchanon replied that the 2027 overtime estimate uses 2025 actuals as a reference, but those numbers reflect a period of significant understaffing. He said they hope to show in 2027 that being fully staffed reduces overtime costs. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked how much longer the department will be able to use its thirty (30)-year-old apparatus. Chief Buchanon stated that the department hopes to continue using it until they can replace it. He said he cannot predict how long the vehicle will remain operational, as it is used twenty-four (24) EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK hours per day, every day. He said the department takes preventive maintenance seriously and the apparatus is currently operational. Committee Member Gooden-Rodgers asked about the difference in price between new and used equipment. Chief Buchanon replied that the department recently purchased a pre-owned aerial for approximately six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000), and a new engine or aerial exceeds one million dollars ($1,000,000). He explained that purchasing a new apparatus comes with a manufacturer warranty and allows the department to customize equipment to their specifications, whereas a pre-owned apparatus is built to another department's specifications and may come with unknown maintenance history. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked if there are any federal matching programs available. Chief Buchanon stated that he is unaware of any current matching programs, and the City incurs the full cost. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked if the regional training center generates revenue from other municipalities. Chief Buchanon confirmed that other municipalities are charged a fee to use the Luther J. Taylor Fire Training Center. He said outside use is scheduled only when the facility is not needed by the department's own personnel so that city firefighters can maintain their certifications. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked for an explanation of the "working out of classification" line item in the salary detail. Chief Buchanon explained that working out of classification occurs when a lower-ranked firefighter fills a higher-ranked position for a shift and receives compensation at that higher classification rate. Citizen Member Margenau expressed concern regarding the shift in years of experience and asked if that trend is expected to continue. Chief Buchanon characterized the shift as encouraging rather than concerning, noting that the younger workforce is physically fit, highly motivated, and brings fresh engagement to the profession. He also noted that many younger recruits come with military experience. He said the current balance between experienced and newer firefighters is different from anything he has seen in his tenure and is a positive development for the department's future. Councilmember Dr. Beidinger thanked Chief Buchanon for the presentation and said she had no additional questions. Council President Lee asked for confirmation that the total proposed budget of forty-seven-point- six million dollars ($47,600,000) is offset by approximately eight-million dollars ($8,000,000) in EMS revenue, bringing the net operating cost to approximately thirty-nine-million dollars ($39,000,000). EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall J 215 S. Or. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ------------------------------------------------ :{1,mi,,. {~} cnY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ·,:;;,,,;, Chief Buchanon confirmed that is correct. Council President Lee thanked both departments for their coordinated response to the Stadium Flats fire. Chief Buchanon acknowledged SBPD's rapid response and support of early evacuation efforts. He stated that there were no injuries and although the building was a total loss, the outcome for residents and responders reflected well on the coordination between both departments. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked about the PERF contribution increase, specifically whether the rising rate represents additional compensation to firefighters or an attempt to address a pension fund shortfall. Chief Buchanon said he could not speak definitively to the state's rationale. He noted that he advocates on the issue through the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association but that the rate is set by the state and the department has no ability to alter it. Aaron Knepper, Police Sergeant, SBPD, 701 West Sample Street, South Bend, IN 46601 , addressed the Committee. He explained that the increase is driven by two (2) factors: wage growth across the state for police and fire has significantly exceeded the state's projected average of four percent (4%) per year, running closer to ten percent (10%) historically, and higher resignation and retirement rates have also contributed. He said the contribution rate is expected to decrease over time as more fire territories join the 1977 fund and recruitment increases across the state. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked for confirmation that this is required and not reimbursable. Sergeant Knepper confirmed that the employer contribution is a legal requirement and is separate from the pre-1977 pension funds, which are reimbursed by the state. Committee Chair Niezgodski opened the public hearing. Thomas Ferguson, 6810 Stewart Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, spoke on behalf of the Lafayette Falls subdivision. He noted that one hundred nine ( 109) additional homes are planned for the area, raising concerns about emergency response. He asked about the possibility of a collaboration between SBFD and the Centre Township fire station to cover the area. / Committee Chair Niezgodski acknowledged the concern and asked Chief Buchanon if there are any interlocal agreements in place. Chief Buchanon confirmed there is currently no agreement with Centre Township. He said the November 2024 fiscal plan identified three (3) potential options if the subdivision continues to grow: constructing a new fire station, the City absorbing Centre Township, or compensating Centre Township for mutual aid coverage. He said he has not yet had the opportunity to meet with Centre Township leadership due to recent chief transitions there but committed to pursuing that conversation as soon as possible. Committee Chair Niezgodski closed the public hearing. EXC ELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY ! INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF somr1 BEND I OFFICE OF THE CrfY CLERK Chief Buchanon made closing remarks thanking the Council for their support, reiterating his appreciation for the working relationship with the Police Department, and acknowledging Sergeant Knepper's explanation of the pension system. With no further business, Committee Chair Niezgodski adjourned the Personnel and Finance Committee meeting at 7:31 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Sheila Niezgodski, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE \ ACCOUNTABILITY \ INNOVATION \ INCLUSION \ EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall 1215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www southbendin.gov