A Bartholomew County Council member said he wanted to send a message that the local economy is still fragile and that many people are still financially hurting.
Ryan Lauer’s motion that the council members deny themselves raises in 2013, which was approved Tuesday night, was largely symbolic. It represents a total savings of $1,365 next year — $195 for each of the seven council members who will go without a raise.
However, a breaking story later delivered in the meeting by a fellow council member really drove Lauer’s message home.
Minutes after the final reading and unanimous approval of a $21.71 million general fund budget, Jorge Morales received a text message. The retired Cummins Inc. department manager learned that his former employer was planning to reduce its worldwide workforce by up to 1,500 employees by the end of the year.
