Mayor Joe Hogsett proposed his $1.6 billion budget to the city-county council Monday night, which includes allocations for pedestrian safety, pay raises for first responders and a fully funded IMPD. The budget is about $90 million more than last year and will be a balanced budget with no new taxes. Here is the breakdown:
Pay increases for first responders
Hogsett cited the pandemic as a prime example of why the work of first responders is vital to the city and proposed a wage increase for firefighters, EMTs and frontline workers.
This budget could face challenges, however, as IMPD, IFD firefighters, county and municipal employees, public defenders and the Marion County Sheriff’s office are currently pending in union negotiations and could seek raises.
Public safety
The budget will set aside money for gun violence reduction strategies to continue, a result of the 8.2% drop in homicides from last year until today. The “Peacemakers” program would receive a total of $4.5 million.
Hogsett proposes for IMPD to be fully funded with 1743 officers and three recruit classes every year using $338 million, $14 million than last year. New units of the IFD, including new fire stations would cost $258 million.
Pedestrian and street safety was recently passed in committee through the Vision Zero project, dedicating 15 taskforce members to implementing safer streets and reducing pedestrian-involved accidents to zero. Hogsett introduced this project to be funded from $305 million of the budget.
Infrastructure
The proposed budget would allocate $246 million to DPW for road improvements and trail additions.
Added trails would serve as connectors between neighborhoods, according to Hogsett, and so would staff dedicated to their upkeep.
The budget includes a $2 million Eagle Creek trail, two-way conversions of 29thand 30th streets and work on South Madison Avenue.
Georgia Street is proposed to get a “green” update and improvements to the underpasses surrounding Union Station. The budget allocated $200 million for improvements to bridges and roadways.
Homelessness and other projects
Hogsett proposed the funding of the Master Leasing Program, which would rent out affordable housing units to citizens to tackle homelessness.
Each councilor would receive $1 million for an IndyParks or DPW project for the neighborhood(s) they represent.
Animal Care Services would become a separate and independent agency from the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services and would open a new animal care shelter by 2026 with their $8.2 million.
$70 million would be used to improve stormwater systems in neighborhoods across the city.
The Republican City-Council Caucus issued a response following the proposal:
“We look forward to working with the mayor and council Democrats to craft a budget that spends within our means and prioritizes the duties of local government. Throughout this budget process, we will be focused on making sure public safety, infrastructure, economic development and vital quality of life projects are being appropriately funded.”
The proposed budget now heads to committee for review where it will then go to public hearing on Sept. 23 and a final vote on Oct. 7.
For more information, visit indy.gov/activity/city-and-county-budget.
Indiana Forest Alliance: Hogsett’s budget fails urban forests – Indianapolis Recorder
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
