Budget discussions

Portland’s city council and mayor have argued about recreational vehicle rules, personnel issues, the trash pickup ordinance, police pay, take-home vehicles, ordinance enforcement, handling of the council agenda and a policy regarding police officers eating at a local restaurant while on duty.

The topic of disagreement this time was the 2026 budget.

Portland City Council’s meeting Tuesday turned contentious again, with council members, Mayor Jeff Westlake and clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips going back and forth about funding for the police department and about input on the budget overall.

Phillips presented the budget, which is currently proposed at $10.24 million for 2026. That’s down from $10.61 million in 2025.

The tense discussion followed Police Chief Dustin Mock raising a question about his department’s budget, noting that he had requested $196,500 for two vehicles and a variety of other equipment. That number was removed from the budget, with $64,000 instead allocated for equipment such as vests and Tasers in the general fund.

Phillips explained that the state legislature removed local option income tax (LOIT) dollars for police departments for 2026. (It was later noted that legislators are expected to restore that funding for 2027.)

She said the dollars removed from the city’s proposed budget would have covered the cost of new vehicles — she pointed out that several vehicles are currently not being used — and added that she felt that was a prudent move with funding uncertainties.

Mock responded that three of the vehicles are “end of life” and five more will need to be replaced “soon.”

Council member Matt Goldsworthy assessed the situation, saying sacrifices need to be made because of the current situation.

“What’s the situation?” asked Westlake.

“The situation? Have you not been paying attention,” Goldsworthy responded. “The situation is our taxes are getting slashed. … 

“We’re gonna lose a couple million dollars over the next few years possibly. So until we’re sure on that, what’s happening, I think it’s in our best decision to take things easy and slow down.”

He added that he is not comfortable with passing a budget that calls for more spending than revenue.

Westlake expressed his view that he should have had more input on the budget, with Phillips and council members responding that he has received the same documents as everyone else.

The discussion went back-and-forth regarding support for the police department and other issues, with Goldsworthy expressing frustration about an “us vs. them” mentality from the police department. He said that is not the case, and added that he feels the council has been supportive of police.

Council member Dave Golden concurred with Goldsworthy, including about a lack of comfort in approving a budget that projects being in the red. He also asked about insurance costs, with Phillips responding that some areas do not look good. She noted liability insurance issues because of the number of tort claims currently filed against the city.

Council member Ron May also raised questions about proposed increases in the budget for parks. Park board president Brian Ison explained that the parks require maintenance and that the department’s budget has remained mostly unchanged over the years.

Another question came from council member Ashley Hilfiker regarding the planned purchase of a paving truck. Department heads Matt Shauver and Doug Jackson said they have stepped back from that proposal, indicating that a demonstration of the equipment gave results that were not acceptable.

The council made no changes to the budget proposal. The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Sept. 15, with a vote on adoption to follow on Oct. 6.

Radios, dispatch

There was also contentious discussion after May brought up the idea of creating a centralized dispatch for all emergency responders in the county. Currently, Jay County Sheriff’s Office, Portland Police Department and Dunkirk Police Department all have their own dispatch units. He suggested that, if such a change were to be made, it would make sense to do it in conjunction with a radio replacement project.

In July, Jay County Commissioners agreed to move forward with a radio project to connect the county and its municipalities to the statewide public safety system. Estimated between $6.6 million and $7.1 million, it would provide radios for emergency responders and non-public safety employees such as Jay County Highway Department and municipal utility departments.

Westlake raised questions about the cost of the equipment and expressed concern that the city was not included in the process. Jay County Commissioners president Chad Aker responded that Westlake and the city’s department heads have been invited to be part of discussions throughout the process. Department heads confirmed that they were asked about their equipment needs.

May and Westlake both asked Mock about the need to upgrade radio equipment.

“The system needs to be changed so everybody functions the same in the county,” Mock said. “It has to happen at some point in time.”

As for a centralized dispatch, he expressed uncertainty but said it could be talked about.

Westlake, a former police dispatcher, said he is opposed to creating a centralized dispatch. He said there is a “stink” based on comments he has heard about the city’s police department.

Aker suggested that the mayor meet with representatives from Ritter Strategic Services, which has been working with the county toward an upgrade of its radio system since December 2023. Portland Fire Chief Mike Weitzel noted that the current project bid from Motorola expires Sept. 18.

Agenda items

May also brought up agenda items, which have also been a contentious topic between council members and the mayor.

There was brief discussion about whether the mayor should be allowed to remove items from the agenda, with Westlake saying some items can become problematic when they have already been talked about multiple times. 

Council president Kent McClung suggested a procedure be put in place for agenda items.

Housing projects

Consultant Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes and Aker also presented information to the city council regarding two potential development projects on the city’s west side.

One would involve 68 acres currently owned by the county on the north side of Votaw Street west of Jay County Humane Society. County officials have been working on the project for several years, with plans to include commercial space along Votaw Street (Indiana 26/67), 210 multi-family housing units, 76 single-family homes and 53 townhomes/duplexes.

The county is also considering bidding on about 50 acres of land on the north side of Tyson Road between Rose Drive and Brigade Electronics. (The property will be up for bid at an auction on Saturday.) Initial plans call for 65 single-family homes and 45 townhomes/duplexes on that property.

Curtin shared projections that the 68-acre project would make a larger economic impact on the community.

Aker advocated for the 68-acre project, noting that $1.28 million in federal coronavirus relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act have already been allocated to it and that the county expects to receive an additional $1.21 million through the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0. He asked the city council for a contribution of $400,000 to help cover the remaining gap for the first phase of the project. (He said the money would not be needed until the end of 2026.) He added that the county’s redevelopment commission would be asked for the remaining $235,000 that would be needed.

Council took no action on the request.

In other business, council members Mike Aker, Michele Brewster, McClung, Goldsworthy, Hilfiker, Golden and May:

•Heard from Randy Stephen of Ohio Valley Gas regarding proposed changes to the city’s right-of-way ordinance, which requires a permit fee. Council members discussed the possibility of offering the option for a bond to ensure that any damage to streets is properly repaired. City attorney Wes Schemenaur plans to put together updated language reflecting the proposed change.

•Approved theclosing Main Street between Meridian and Harrison streets from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 for the Main Street Fall Festival.

•Heard May ask if security cameras have been installed at Jay County Solid Waste Management District recycling trailers, whether a payment plan could be put in place for the city’s sidewalk program and what the status is of extending the multi-use path along Blaine Pike. Cameras have not yet been installed, a payment plan would need to be added to the city ordinance for the sidewalk program and discussions are continuing regarding the Blaine Pike path.

•Discussed the status of police and code enforcement before approving payment of claims. Hilfiker questioned the status of an officer who has not passed a portion of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on his first two attempts. (The limit is three attempts.)

•Heard Hilfiker note that there continues to be an issue with vehicles being parked on sidewalks. She also asked about lights at the pickleball courts at Milton Miller Park.