Muncie employees to get $1,000 bonuses, other than police, fire departments

MUNCIE, Ind. − City employees, other than police and firefighters, are each receiving a $1,000 bonus in October from the administration of Dan Ridenour.

Last October Ridenour provided police and firefighters with one time $1,000 bonuses "as a thank you for their hard work during a period of understaffing," according to press release from the city. The city was unable to provide a similar bonus to those outside of the public safety departments.

ARP put to use:$500,000 to help Whitely Community Council develop center to provide clinic, other aid

This year the other employees, including those members of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees local, are receiving the one-time bonus from American Rescue Plan money provided to the city by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bonuses, to be paid out a week from Friday on Oct. 7, will cost $130,000, Ridenour said. There will be no deductions from the bonus, so those receiving the bonus will need to report it to the Internal revenue Service for tax purposes.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Ridenour said in a prepared statement. “Our public works department, EMS, animal control, and others work tirelessly to keep our City running, and it’s often thankless work. I’m proud of my team, and I want to say thank you.”

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The bonus will not apply to elected officials, or police and firefighters.

Also being taken from the $1.9 million in ARP funds the city had set aside is the $500,000 pledged to the Whitely Community Council for the development of a center to house nonprofits aiding low-income people from across the city.

Ridenour also said the administration is replacing the two elevators at City Hall with ARP money at a cost of $275,000. City ARP funds will be depleted after the latest round of spending.