The City-County Council has approved the 2020 budget.
The budget, which includes increased funding towards Indianapolis Metro Police Department, Indianapolis Fire Department and community crime prevention grants, passed 22-2 Monday.
“I’m pleased with the outcome of the Council’s vote this evening on the 2020 budget for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County,” Council President Osili said in a statement. “Four years in a row, Mayor Hogsett has presented a fiscally responsible budget that invests strategically in our city’s infrastructure, public safety, and criminal justice reform.”
The budget will contribute $1.2 million for body cam deployment and fund $117 million in road, bridge, and sidewalk infrastructure projects.
The 2020 budget will do so without raising taxes.
“I want to thank my colleagues for their hard work during all phases of the budgeting cycle. From attending budget hearings to scheduling one-on-one meetings with city-county agencies, we have worked together to develop a budget that will effectively serve the needs of our entire community,” said Majority Leader Maggie A. Lewis in a statement.
Following the passage of the 2020 budget, Mayor Joe Hogsett released the following statement:
“I want to applaud President Vop Osili and Council leadership for their work to facilitate a robust conversation around the 2020 budget.
Thanks to overwhelming bipartisan support by the city-county council, this budget will support a comprehensive community-based violence reduction strategy, invest in public safety communications technology including $1.2 million for body cam deployment, and fund $117 million in road, bridge, and sidewalk infrastructure projects. Further, the 2020 budget will uplift our neighbors in need through substantial programming aimed at addressing food security, homelessness, mental health, and addiction.
Tonight’s bipartisan vote is the latest confirmation that our city is best served when we prioritize taxpayer-friendly policies and neighborhood investments over political games and partisan politics.”