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Indy council passes $1.1 billion 2016 budget

Budget provides money to hire 70 police officers, fund prekindergarten and pay for storm water infrastructure projects.

John Tuohy
john.tuohy@indystar.com
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard

The Indianapolis City-County Council approved a $1.1 billion 2016 budget that provides money to hire 70 police officers, fund prekindergarten education and pay for storm water infrastructure projects.

The budget is 6.8 percent larger than last year’s and includes a $26 million increase for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Public safety — including police, fire, homeland security, and animal care and control — consumes 59 percent of the budget.

Indianapolis City Controller Matthew Kimmick described the budget as a “maintenance” budget, without any unusual spending proposals intended to set the table for the incoming mayor. Mayor Greg Ballard will leave office in January after two terms. The vote was 22-6.

"While there are elements we had hoped to see in the final cut ... many other important elements such as Indy’s pre-K initiative and funding for additional IMPD officers are included for the coming year,” David Rosenberg, Ballard’s deputy chief of staff and council liaison, said in a statement.

IMPD budget for body cameras, more cops headed to full City-County Council

The budget includes roughly $2 million to hire 70 police officers, $4.2 million to fund pre-K education for low-income children and $8 million for storm water projects.

It also includes $3 million to purchase 100 police patrol cars and $150,000 to buy body cameras for police. The budget also would dedicate $2 million to handle increased caseloads involving abused and neglected children.

City-County Councilwoman Angela Mansfield

Democratic Councilwoman Angela Mansfield voted against the budget because she said she objected to spending money on pre-K — which critics say shouldn’t be the city’s responsibility — when the city is short of police officers.

“Although our money is tight, we still find ways to spend money on other things,” Mansfield said.

Rep. Aaron Freeman, a Republican, and Zach Adamson, a Democrat, voted against the budget because they objected to some of Ballard’s spending priorities, such as an electric car share program.

“We are underfunding public safety and public works while we fund money for BlueIndy (car share) cricket parks and professional sports teams,” Adamson said.

The city estimates $316 million in property tax collections next year, a $2 million decrease from 2015, but income tax collections are estimated to be $289 million, a $4 million increase.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-6418. Follow him on Twitter: @john_tuohy.