 First, we in the District 3 Office want to extend congratulations to the Councilwoman's third daughter, Shamari Parrish, for graduating with her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling! We are so proud of Shamari and excited to see her continue to flourish!
We also want to shout out and uplift all students who have been promoted and who've graduated! Councilwoman Parrish-Wright now has two grandchildren going into first grade. In District 3, we know education is the great equalizer!
Read the 2025-2026 Recommended Budget:
Recommended Budget
This month, the Budget Committee has heard from several departments about how they plan to work with their projected budgets for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. (You can read the proposed budget above.) The Budget Committee will continue hearing from departments next week. You can watch the previous and upcoming meetings here: https://louisvilleky.primegov.com/public/portal
Conversation with the mayor about this budget:
Unfortunately, funding for the Shively Library was not included in the mayor's budget for 2025-2026. Councilwoman Parrish-Wright had the following exchange with the mayor:
Councilwoman Parrish-Wright: "Mayor Greenberg, you made a verbal commitment to the Shively splash pad and a bigger Shively Library. I have allocated funds to cover a portion of the splashpad and the City of Shively is putting in $100K your part is $50K. I have also emailed about these and plan to follow up. District 3 and the Southwest of Louisville has not been invested in for far too long. There are homeowners, business owners and hard working people that are active and contribute to the City of Louisville's budget. Please follow up and let the Mayor of Shively, Shively City Council and my entire District know if you plan to honor your commitment. Last, the Shively Library was listed before and now has been removed. Is there a real commitment to expand one of the most used libraries in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Respectfully Submitted,
Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright
Mayor Greenberg: "Thanks for reaching out. I am supportive of these projects. Unfortunately, there were many projects I support that were not included in my proposed budget due to resource limitations. I proposed the Council Designated Projects in the capital budget be increased to $3 million so you and your colleagues can fund projects just like this - I encourage you to work with your colleagues on this. Re: library - given the library projects currently under construction, this year I didn't propose any new library buildings - instead, I proposed a $1 million match to increase materials in the library system. I look fwd to working with you on these and other matters. Have a great wknd.
Additionally, I meant to also note that my proposed capital budget includes $500,000 for improvements at GG Moore Park, which is in your district.
Councilwoman Parrish-Wright: "Hope all is well. Mayor Greenberg, I am preparing to update my constituents on budget issues and concerns. It is my understanding that there is no $$ in budget for a 'living room/23-hour' respite center. We both made commitments at CLOUT Nehemiah Action.
The 'medical respite' referred to in your budget speech is something different, as I understand it. Is that about the Community Care Campus? Please advise.
Mayor Greenberg: "Thank you for reaching out. In my proposed budget, among many other related initiatives, I proposed:
Funding for two new/expanded 24 hour shelters, in partnership with The Healing Place and St. Vincent de Paul's.
Funding for a new medical respite center, to be operated by Family Health Centers, located on the community care campus.
Additionally, members of my administration have had preliminary conversations regarding a new living room-like location and program. We are all very interested in learning more about this possibility and possible partners.
And, finally, regarding CLOUT questions, I had to leave after my portion of the program, which focused on public safety and the consent decree. I think you and I were asked different questions about different topics.
Councilwoman Parrish-Wright: "Ok, thank you. We were asked two different questions. CLOUT just sent out an email that I'll share an excerpt in my next text.
Whether it is called the Living Room or 24hr drop in, it looks like we all "were" expecting your budget to reflect that it would be funded. We can re-address that in November, I guess, or next year's budget. Would love us as Louisville Metro Council to come up with our own budget and pass one that does more to support all the people of Louisville, but here we are. Believe me, I will do my part and am more than happy to work with you and your team on things like this.
(Below excerpted from CLOUT)
'The mayor's proposed budget was released on April 24th, and Metro Council will consider adjustments over the next two months.
CLOUT will have speakers at the May 15, June 12 and 26 meetings to speak in favor of the issues we supported at the Nehemiah Action: Consent Decree monitoring (currently in the budget) and a 24/7 drop-in crisis center (not yet in the budget).
We need you there to support our speakers, show our people power, and stand up for a budget that represents our values!'"
The mayor's administration is predicting a budget deficit, meaning they believe for this fiscal year, 2025-2026, there will not be enough income to Metro Government to cover expenses incurred. The mayor has suggested there may be layoffs of metro workers.
More about this can be read here: https://www.lpm.org/investigate/2025-05-08/as-louisville-mayor-eyes-new-spending-city-workers-could-face-layoffs
Our Louisville Metro Government employees deserve better. Many of them don't get the raises LMPD gets. The lawsuits cost money that is already budgeted for.
The Councilwoman would make cuts that start at the top because the bottom is filled with people that help hold our city together. She would cut the following:
LEDA
10 Executive positions including deputy mayors
Fleet cars for people with stationary jobs. Jail executives don't need cars with unlimited gas cards because Louisville only has one jail.
Extra spending for downtown initiatives that don't benefit Louisvillians.
LMPD's new headquarters in the old AT&T building with costs that continue to rise. Those costs need a cap, and some of the highest paid positions need to be evaluated for efficiency.
Where would you make cuts to avoid layoffs?
If you have thoughts about the budget, please submit them via the budget comment form, linked below.
The online public comment form is live!
If you have not yet, please fill out a public comment form to let us know what you want in the budget. The form can be accessed HERE! This link will also allow you to see the full budget hearing schedule. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Plan to attend the Community Budget Hearing on Thursday, May 22, at 6:00 PM. Sign-up to speak on May 22, between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM at Metro Council Chambers, 601 W. Jefferson Street. To sign up, please call the clerk's office at 502-574-3902.
If you have an organization that has previously received External Agency Funds (EAF) and are seeking additional funding, please let the council members know what you are looking for. Council members must have a working knowledge of everything there is to know in Louisville and that is sometimes not feasible. Please let the council members know relevant information so they can advocate on your behalf!
For our next podcast we'll be talking to a Family & Youth Resource Coordinator with JCPS, and with the director of the very busy South Louisville Community center about summer programming. Until then, please listen to our former podcasts HERE!
You can also listen to our podcasts on the radio! Every other Friday from 3-4pm on WLLV (101.9FM) one of our podcasts will be broadcast!
May is going to be a super busy month for the District 3 office! We will be attending budget hearings almost every week day, but please continue to share your events and invite the us to summer programming! We are happy to attend and share the love!
As always, please continue to report any abandoned vehicles or property to 3-1-1 or 502-574-5000. You can also use the 311 Mobile App, or the website at louisvilleky.gov. Public Works and Codes & Regulations are very busy but it is important to continue reporting these issues to them via the 311 process. Even if it takes them a while to address the issue, please continue to report them.
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