For the last two months, Metro Council has reviewed the operating and capital budgets proposed by Mayor Fischer on April 22. Tonight, we will vote on the budget, which goes into effect on July 1.

The Mayor’s proposal increased investments in public safety, including violence prevention; increased funding for housing initiatives; and continued the effort to improve our roads and sidewalks. Those priorities are by and large funded in the amended budgets unanimously approved by the Budget Committee this week, which the full Council will consider tonight. 

Utilizing Louisville’s improved revenue forecast and American Rescue Plan funds appropriated by Congress in a process led by Congressman John Yarmuth, the Budget Committee’s amended budget also expands funding for public safety, libraries, parks, infrastructure, and deferred maintenance. It also advances our renewable energy commitment and reduces proposed borrowing by just over $10 Million, compared to the original proposed budget.

Here are a few highlights:

Public Safety

The budget appropriates additional dollars to improve compensation at LMPD, Corrections, Emergency Management Services and Louisville Fire.  It also expands funding for violence intervention, through the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and Group Violence Intervention.

The amended budget includes the proposed $2.9 Million for a pilot 911 Prioritization and Deflection Project but moves the funding from LMPD to Emergency Services, which operates the 911 system. That project is designed to send social service providers in response to some 911 calls involving non-violent behavior, saving police resources and providing a more appropriate response.

Human Services and Housing

Using $1 million in funding reserved for “Council-designated priorities” in the Mayor’s proposed budget, the amended budget makes additional investments in human services throughout the community.

Human service funding includes:

• $279,400 for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky’s “Another Way” program, expanding a pilot program to a county-wide effort. The program offers a new way for unhoused individuals to earn money and connect with Goodwill’s life-changing resources. It targets high-traffic areas and offers unhoused individuals an opportunity to get off the streets and to different work opportunities, where they’ll receive a lunch and a stipend for a day’s work. In addition, the program aims to connect unhoused individuals with Goodwill’s resources, designed to end poverty and guide individuals to self-sufficiency.
• $100,000 for the Volunteers of America Unity House, which provides food, housing and safety for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors, including eviction, domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, unemployment or underemployment, lack of affordable housing, and lack of money management and/or life skills.
• Increased funding for Family and Children’s Place ($33,100) and the Center for Women and Families ($16,500).

“Council-designated” funds will also be used to: fund a “Parks for All” Equitable Investment Plan, to be matched by the Louisville Parks Foundation, to help develop a plan for equitable investments in parks throughout Louisville Metro ($200,000); expand the effort to remove graffiti in the community ($150,700); and hire two additional Code Enforcement Officers and one Zoning Enforcement Officer, to improve neighborhoods throughout Louisville.

Other human service and housing changes in the amended budget include:

• Replacement funding for $350,000 in the Corrections budget, to allow for the elimination of revenue from inmate telephone calls. The amended budget calls for the elimination of fees for inmate telephone calls which generate review for Louisville Metro no later than December 31, 2021.  We previously received $700,000 from inmate telephone calls and we’ve seen stories of families incurring bills of hundreds of dollars per month just to speak to their incarcerated relatives.  That’s wrong.  I am very pleased to see a recognition that we should not be funding our jail on the backs of families who have loved ones in the facility.
• The Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund’s allocation carries the new requirement that 25% of the $10 million investment be dedicated to serving very low-income households, at or below 30% Area Median Income. There is also money in the budget for down payment assistance, affordable housing homeowner unit preservation, and home repair, totaling almost $11 Million.  Continuing to address our housing issues is critical to the future of the community, and I hope to see a great deal more money appropriated to the effort in American Rescue Plan funding. (The July 8 newsletter will have more on American Rescue Plan process and funding.)

Libraries

The capital budget heavily invests in library services. It includes $2 million for renovation of the Portland Library at 3305 Northwestern Parkway, the Louisville Free Public Library branch most in need of renovation, including an elevator to make the second floor accessible to all library users.  The library is a historic Carnegie library, one of four still operating in Louisville. (Crescent Hill is one of the four.)

It also includes $500,000 to reopen for library services the historic Carnegie library building in Parkland, at 2743 Virginia Avenue.  

The amended budget also includes $1,040,000 in funds for Phase I of a library complex on Metro-owned property in the Fern Creek area, to replace a library closed as part of budget cuts two years ago.

Road and Sidewalk Projects

The amended budget adds to the $22 million appropriation for road and sidewalk repairs in the proposed budget, with locally funded projects and investments of $4,567,500 to leverage an additional $18.2 million in federal funds. Among the projects are the reconstruction of River Road from Zorn Avenue to Beargrass Creek, a long delayed project in District 9, for which we are appropriating $2.25 Million of a more than $10 Million total cost. The project elevates the road to address flooding issues and includes bike lanes and a shared use path.   

Deferred Maintenance and Renewable Energy

The amended budget includes funds for deferred maintenance and other improvements to Louisville Metro facilities, including funds to demolish the obsolete LMPD Headquarters and Fiscal Court Building. It adds to funds to deal with maintenance issues in parks and other Metro facilities.

Finally, to advance Louisville Metro’s renewable energy goals, the amended budget calls for reinvesting savings from energy conservation identified by Metro’s new Energy Manager into improving energy infrastructure in Metro facilities as well as securing a renewable energy supply. Meeting our renewable energy goals will require an investment and this provision will help us make it.  

Notice of Action on a Federally Enforceable District Origin Operating Permit

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District) proposes to renew a FEDOOP operating permit to Fabricated Metals, LLC (steel industrial cabinet, luminaire arms and poles, railroad wayside equipment and accessories manufacturer), 633 Strawberry Lane, in accordance with Regulation 2.17. The 30-day public comment period starts on June 24, 2021, and ends on July 26, 2021 A public hearing may be scheduled if the District determines that there are germane, unresolved issues or substantial public interest, in accordance with Regulation 2.07.

Drafts of the permit and summary are available at the District office, 701 West Ormsby Avenue, Suite 303, Louisville between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling Matt King at (502) 574-6000 or emailing airpermits@louisvilleky.gov or at the following website: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/APCD/docket. Copies of the application are available upon request. Written comments will be accepted at airpermits@louisvilleky.gov until midnight or at the District office until 5:00 p.m. on July 26, 2021.

1. What is the purpose of this permit? This permit action renews the company’s operating permit.
2. General Facility Description. Fabricated Metals, LLC is a steel industrial cabinet, luminaire arms and poles, railroad wayside equipment and accessories manufacturer.
3. Will this permit increase air pollution? This permit will not increase air pollution.
4. Does this facility have a history of non-compliance? This facility does not have any non-compliance issues.
5. Where can I find out more? Additional information, including emissions units, potential and past actual emissions, applicable rules, and air pollution control equipment, are summarized in the Statement of Basis. The Draft Permit details the application of these rules to the emissions units and air pollution control equipment and includes the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting that the District deems is necessary to demonstrate compliance.

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/APCD/docket

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