(ANGOLA) - Steuben County's 2026 budget was approved by the county council on Tuesday. The process was complicated by the new Indiana Senate Bill 1 (SB1). The bill provides property tax credits for homeowners and seniors, which is expected to lead to a loss of revenue for many local governments in Indiana.
The approved budget for Steuben County is nearly $40 million, which is about $2 million less than the previous year's budget. Despite concerns from some council members about a planned 5% employee salary increase, a motion to reduce it to 3.5% was voted down.
Indiana's SB1, which Governor Mike Braun signed into law, is a property tax relief measure that allows homeowners to receive a new property tax credit starting in 2026. The credit is 10% of their tax bill, with a maximum of $300 annually. To offset potential revenue losses, the bill authorizes local governments to increase or impose new local income taxes.