MUNCIE, Ind. — While the city employees union has been struggling since 2023 with negotiations, last night Muncie City Council voted 5-4 to spend money putting “In God We Trust” on all police and fire vehicles. Up for adoption next month, the idea came in the midst of council dealing with the 2027 budget, and up until last night there were no dates established for their finance committee meetings.

There was concern that the changes in the salary ordinance would be cutting union positions. Human Resources Director Patty Goddard said the restructuring created by the ordinance changed a secretary position in the Building Commissioners Office to an administrative coordinator, and from a collective bargaining to non-collective bargaining unit position. Goddard added that another position changed in the opposite direction, calling it a trade off.

When asked how the union felt to their knowledge, Animal Shelter Director Josh Taulbee and Building Commissioner Richard Rawlings both said they were unaware. President of AFSCME Local 3656 Nate Burgess told council that he opposed the decision, adding that the city needs to “quit taking union positions and making more bosses.” Deputy Controller Matt Wagley claimed that city employees were breaking a confidentiality agreement, however AFSCME President Nate Burgess later in the evening responded “I’ve used a sign-in sheet but it didn’t say anything about confidential.”

Nora Powell motioned to table the salary ordinance, seconded by William McIntosh, and the vote was unanimously in favor.

Ordinance 18-26 requires all police and fire vehicles in Muncie to be decorated with the slogan “In God We Trust” and would change city code to require the change. It was introduced by a 5-4 vote along party lines, with Republicans all voting in favor. All but one person who spoke at the podium on the ordinance were against it.

Arguments from the crowd mostly focused on the cost of adorning the vehicles, which was not written in the ordinance, however Jeff Green said he was given an estimate of $1,500 to $3,000. Several people also advocated for separation of church and state, many identifying themselves as Christian.

Councilor Nora Powell asked Mayor Dan Ridenour whether he is in support and would go through with approving and enforcing the ordinance, at which point Ridenour said he is in favor of adding the slogan.

Councilor Ro Selvey, considered a tie-breaking vote in her track record on council, told the crowd that she believes that while it would exclude agnostics, she believed “In God We Trust” is also inclusive of other faiths in her view. After comments from the public and council, she ultimately voted in favor.

Council’s finance committee (comprised of William McIntosh, Dale Basham, and Jerry Dishman) will be meeting September 22nd, 24th, and 30th each at 6:00pm at Muncie City Hall.

Daisy Dale is the editor and publisher of The Muncie Post-Democrat, a commissioner for the Muncie Human Rights Commission, and a board member of Muncie Queer Alliance.