Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, August 19, 2014
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard introduced his one-billion-dollar 2015 budget to the City-County Council Monday night.
Ballard told the council his budget places the greatest emphasis on the city's number one priority: public safety. 90-percent of the city's general fund is directed toward public safety and criminal justice.
Ballard says the budget provides funding for the 80 police officers being hired in 2014 as well as 50 new officers and 20 new firefighters in 2015.
The budget maintains the city's two-million dollar Crime Prevention Grant. It also uses the remaining seven-point-three million dollars from RebuildIndy for infrastructure improvements.
Ballard says the budget funds what the city needs to fund but does not include any money the city does not have, such as money from RebuildIndy 2.
Ballard says the budget cuts the city's structural deficit from 37-million dollars to 25-million.
He also touted his anti-crime plan which is not included in the budget, but is included in separate proposals which were also introduced to the council Monday night. Some of those proposals include an increase in the Public Safety Tax and the elimination of the Local Homestead Tax Credit.
Another proposal allows the investment of 50-million dollars over five years to provide preschool scholarships to Indy four-year-olds, half of which would come from the city and the other half from government and philanthropic grants. Ballard says Eli Lilly will invest ten million dollars over three years if the preschool proposal is passed.
The City-County Council must pass a budget by November 3.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.