GOSHEN — Monday evening’s regular meeting of the Goshen Common Council provided a first look at the city’s proposed budget for 2026. With major uncertainty still surrounding the process, thanks to the controversial Senate Enrolled Act 1, not are only city department budgets under threat of severe reductions, but so are those of local nonprofits who have traditionally received a portion of their annual funding from the city.
Following the first reading of the proposed budget for 2026, representatives from numerous nonprofits stepped to the microphone to address the council and showcase the positive things their organizations are doing for the community. Each speaker also shared a common fear of their budget, and subsequently their outreach, being slashed thanks to an anticipated shrunken pool of funding.
Mayor Gina Leichty and the city’s department heads have put together numbers based on revenue projections that may or may not turn out to be accurate. Beginning in 2026, SEA 1 has restructured the way property taxes are calculated, leading to fears that municipal budgets could face as much as a 20% reduction from the 2025 numbers. Without changes to the bill, which was passed by the Indiana legislature and signed by Gov. Mike Braun in the spring, that number could jump to double that amount in 2028.
“I wouldn’t want to sit in your chairs,” Ron Hoke, president of the Goshen Historical Society, said. “I’ve been watching Goshen city budgets since 1974, and the task that the state has given you to solve over the next three to four or five years is the worst one I’ve ever seen dealt to a city council. I know there has to be some cuts somewhere. Everybody’s going to have some pain … and nonprofits are willing to accept some of that pain just to keep the program going.
“We don’t want to have that cut,” he said. “We can’t just end the program because we’re scared of not having funds in 2028 for it. … We’re willing to take some of the pain, and then by 2028, the state may actually know what they’re going to do, and you’ll know what you can do. So I’m asking you to continue the program for all nonprofits, maybe not 100%. We’re not asking for more, but let us help you, and we’ll take some of that pain.”
Some in the audience, like high school senior Gabo Brenneman-Ochoa, called for the council to hold a town hall meeting that would include elected officials, including Rep. Joanna King and Sen. Blake Doriot, to allow the public to voice their concerns and ask questions about the purpose and subsequent effects of SEA 1.
“I think it would be appropriate for people, anybody living in this town, to voice their concerns,” Brenneman-Ochoa said. “We just want to understand why the state legislature is doing this. As someone who moved to Goshen from Vermont, I really appreciated the many programs and recreational activities that this town provides. That’s one of the reasons why I love this community and I do not want that to change.”
Council president Brett Weddell said that he and councilor Linda Gerber had reached out to both King and Doriot to attend last night’s meeting, but neither was able to attend. Both, however, expressed an interest in having further discussions with the council and the public at a future time.
Additionally, a statement released and signed by all members of the council called upon the state legislature to reevaluate the ramifications of SEA 1 and its impact on local governments.
“To be clear, the problems with SEA 1 are not partisan and we as Goshen city officials endorse the call for an urgent fix,” the statement reads. “The bottom line is that Goshen families were promised tax relief. Instead, SEA 1 risks future services, higher fees and a heavier load on homeowners. Our state legislators want to take credit by claiming property tax relief while at the same time deflecting blame for the ramifications to locally elected council members.”
“I know you are faced with difficult budget decisions,” Amanda Rose, director of Goshen’s First Fridays, said. “Every dollar must be weighted against competing needs, notably supporting much needed public safety initiatives. But I want to urge you, respectfully and strongly, not to reduce funding for our community partnerships, and to continue reaching out to state legislators about the consequences of SEA 1. These partnerships are not extras, but rather essential to our community.
“The programs that you support are vital not only to our sense of place, but to our local economy,” she continued. “People who attend performances and festivals also dine in our restaurants and shop in our stores. These programs generate tax revenue, attract tourism and fuel small business growth. But beyond these dollars, these partnerships … build community, they help us tell our shared story and give our town a sense of place. In this time of divide, they bring people together … regardless of age, background or income.”
The second reading of the 2026 Goshen city budget will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 6, inside the Goshen Police & Court Building, 111 E. Jefferson St. The meeting is open to the public and will include a time for public comment.