INDIANAPOLIS — Raises are on the way for city of Beech Grove employees.

“If the city can afford it, then there is no reason why we can’t continue to take care of our citizens,” said Beech Grove Mayor James Coffman.

Mayor Coffman said the city’s newly approved budget will help take care of the people who contribute to the city’s prosperity. Every city employee receives a 3% raise, some even more.

WRTV

“There are a few employees, six or seven, who still make $41,000 a year,” Coffman said. “We said, well, these employees. They deserve more. So they get about a 10 percent raise.”

A reward that Coffman said would also benefit residents.

“Even though we will increase our budget from the previous year, our tax rate will be lower,” Coffman said.

WRTV

This year, Beech Grove’s budget was just over $15 million. The approved budget of nearly $19 million for 2025 sets the tax rate even lower.

“A substantial decrease in the tax rate for the city, which is incredible. So I’m excited about that,” Coffman said.

“We’re all paid paycheck to paycheck, and so any little increase helps,” said Carvis Herron Jr., a Beech Grove resident.

WRTV

Carvis said he considers this approved budget a bonus.

“I don’t work here, but I like the fact that people I know will be able to get paid a little better and live more comfortably,” Herron said.

Mayor Coffman said most of the positions that were significantly underpaid by the city were held by women and that addressing this wage gap was his priority.

WRTV

“It’s not the end all be all. I think we still have work to do, but again, we have to continue to stay ahead of the curve, because otherwise we’ll be left behind, and that’s came to town several years ago,” Coffman said.

“They work just as hard as the men. I mean, I’ll be the first to say it’s a little bit harder. So, it’s good to see that they’re actually starting to get paid accordingly, or at least to try to level out their level than this pay gap,” Herron said.

Beech Grove’s budget also includes nearly $1 million in infrastructure funding to improve roundabouts, sidewalks and trails.