The Mayor's FY27 Budget Proposal

Mayor Greenberg’s FY27 budget reflects a disciplined, balanced approach that lives within our means while fully funding essential services — without raising taxes or fees. Even in a tighter fiscal environment, this proposal invests in public safety, paving, parks, and long-term capital needs, while positioning District 24 and Okolona for continued growth. Strategic investments, including Preston Highway Hispanic Funds and infrastructure improvements along Preston Highway, Bardstown Road, and the Churchill Downs corridor, will strengthen small businesses, improve connectivity, and help our community thrive. We are also working with Metro Parks on an RFP to evaluate the feasibility of a future community center in or around District 24. I look forward to the budget hearings scheduled through June, where we will dig deeper into each department’s proposals and recommendations to ensure these investments best serve our residents.

The Mayor’s FY27 Budget Proposal

Louisville Metro Government operates on an annual budget that unlike the Federal Government, must be balanced and must be passed prior to the start of the new Fiscal Year (July 1st). On April 23rd Mayor Greenberg delivered his fourth budget proposal to the members of the Louisville Metro Council, outlining approximately $1.35 billion in spending ($1.15 billion for the Operating Budget and $197 million for the Capital budget). The mayor’s budget fully funds the police department, fully funds our goals for paving, continues our efforts to address maintenance needs within our parks and completes the needed funding for a number of large capital projects. The budget appears to be a bit tighter than in years past but manages to fund essential services at adequate levels without a request for increased fees or taxes.

A Tighter Budget Outlook

The correct decision to live within our means and refrain from requesting new or additional tax revenue will create a few budgeting challenges as we review the mayor’s proposal. Recent changes in funding levels from senior nutrition and other grants from federal programs have caused Metro to either take on some of those costs or scale back some of our programs. Those changes along with the ending of certain COVID and other Federal programs (as expected) will lead to changes that Metro is ready to address. Rather than relying on these Federal funds for personnel, as other organizations have, we worked hard to reduce our reliance on Federal program funding for personnel so that when their funding runs out, we are not put in a weaker financial position.

In addition to Federal changes, Metro is also posed with having to absorb approximately $13 million in additional costs associated with providing health benefits for our employees and increases in union contracts and non-union salary and wages These increases are also being addressed without having to seek new funding sources. The mayor is projecting a 3.6% increase in general fund revenue and bonding 26% of the proposed capital projects as well as reducing operating, programmatic and contractual services in 25 Metro Departments.

Highlights from the Mayor’s FY27 Budget Proposal:

· No new taxes or fees

· $30 million for continued progress in addressing the Paving and Road repair needs of our community.

· $3.5 million to support Thrive By 5 Louisville and make childcare and early learning more affordable and accessible.

· $5 million for the construction of a training track at the planned First Responders Training Facility in Southwest Jefferson County. Funding matches appropriation from Kentucky General Assembly to support this much needed resource for police, fire, EMS and other regional first responders.

· $3 million for Dare to Care’s new Hunger Relief Center to be matched with $5 million in funding provided by the General Assembly during this year’s budget process.

· $500,000 to continue support for the senior nutrition program after a drop in federal funding.

· $1 million for Home of the Innocents to expand the Kosair for Kids Complex Care Center.

· $5 million to help with construction costs for the Kentucky Trails Capital Campaign and to match an equal contribution from the Kentucky General Assembly.

· $4.68 million to complete funding for Metro Parks centralized Maintenance and Operations Facility and the Radio Shop Expansion both to be located at the current Newburg Radio Shop site. This will aid in making Metro Parks more efficient.

· $275,000 for Family Health Center clinics at JCPS schools and other locations around Louisville.

· $1.65 million for local community ministries.

· $4.5 million to complete needed funding for new pool facility at Sun Valley Park. Work to start following end of 2026 swimming season.

· $5 million for Jefferson Memorial Forest Capital Improvements. Funding will go towards continued development of walking trails, a suspension bridge and other amenities at JMF.

· $1 million for match for next phase of infrastructure improvements using Metro System Development Charge.

· $2 million for identified bridge and retaining wall repairs.

· Hiring of additional library staff to support the opening of the new Fern Creek Library

· $450,000 for Sylvania Park capital improvements

· $50,000 for a new Southwest Community Center. Funding will combine with FY26 allocation already in use for planning and design.

· $20+ million to help more people and families find affordable housing through support of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, down payment assistance, existing property repair and renovation, small developer projects, and more.

· $1.5 million to tear down Dosker Manor and make way for new affordable housing.

· $500,000 to support the Home for Good initiative to create more permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

Next Steps

We will receive the details of the mayor’s proposal over the next week. During this time, we will be looking through the hundreds of pages presented to get a better grasp of the details of the Mayor’s budget. The first FY27 Budget hearing is planned for May 7th with approximately 25 hearings planned over the course of May and early June.

During those meetings we will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the operations of the major departments as well as the necessity and reasoning behind each proposed capital project. The Metro Council has a Budget Link located on our main webpage. This page contains the Capital, Operating, Detail as well as hearing schedule and public comment forms for this budget cycle. The Metro Council expects to have the final vote on the FY27 Budget on Thursday, June 25th at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Metro Council.

To view the 26-27 Approved Budget, click here.

Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your member of the Louisville Metro Council. Please feel free to reach out to me via phone at 574-1124 or e-mail at ginny.mulveywoolridge@louisvilleky.gov should you have any questions or ideas related to local government, and please have a happy and safe Derby Week!

Regards,

Ginny

Low-Cost Rabies, License and Microchip Clinic a Great Success!

Our hosting partnership with Metro Animal Services and the Low-Cost Rabies, License and Microchip Clinic was a great success! The rain held off and we had many families stop by to get their pets vaccinated, microchipped or just to get a license. We also appreciate our partnership with Districts 13 and 25 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles who allowed us to use their great facility.

Our next clinic will be June 13th at Highview Park, 7122 Briscoe Lane, from 10 AM - 1 PM. Be sure to check our newsletter for other opportunities with Metro Animal Services!

Highview Future Leader, Memphis Celebrates Earth Day

Last week we celebrated Earth Day. At school, Memphis, learned about Earth Day for the first time. He went home from school and immediately grabbed his bucket and with his grandmother walked the neighborhood so he could pick up trash to save the Earth. His grandmother shared these pictures with me to show that there may be a future leader in him. She says this kid's heart is massive and he always thinks of other people and sees the good in them. 

Thank you Memphis for caring about the Earth and the people on it! I am very excited your grandmother shared your story with me so I could share it with others.  

2026 FridayFest at Highview Park Schedule

The FridayFest concert series will return for its 14th year this summer at Highview Park. This is a series of six concerts offering a variety of music on Fridays, as well as various food vendors and children’s activities. 

All shows are free and run from 6 -10 PM at Highview Park, 7201 Outer Loop. Make plans now to attend this year’s shows.  For more information, click here.

Throo the Zoo 5K Run/Walk - May 9th

Dash on over to the Zoo to take part in Louisville’s only road race that doesn’t just go around the Zoo but actually “Throo” the Zoo. Enjoy an early morning adventure where you watch as the Zoo wakes up! Join fellow runners on May 9th at 8 AM for one amazing Louisville Zoo experience.

Packet pick-up will take place on Friday, May 8th from 11 AM - 5 PM in the bus lot at the Louisville Zoo (1100 Trevilian Way, 40213). If you are unable to pick up your packet on Friday, there will be a limited packet pick-up on race morning from 6:45 - 7:45 AM . 

For more information, click here!

National Bike to Work Day - May 15th

May is National Bike Month, and that can only mean one thing — Bike to Work Day is back! Mark your calendars for Friday, May 15, 2026, and get ready to ride.

Bike Louisville will host five group rides starting at 7:30 AM from parks and locations across the region, including Iroquois Park, Seneca Park, Shawnee Park, George Rogers Clark Park, and the Big Four Station in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Each ride will be led by experienced volunteer ride captains and will end downtown at The Plaza on Fourth (222 S. 4th St.).

Riders will be welcomed downtown with coffee, donuts, and prizes — a well-earned reward for helping celebrate active, sustainable transportation in Louisville Metro. Don’t have a bike? No problem. Lime will be deploying e-bikes at each Meet & Ride location and offering free rides into downtown. Participants can reserve an e-bike through the registration form.

Bike to Work Day is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, connect with others, and experience the benefits of biking as a healthy and sustainable way to get around the city. Be sure to register in advance and view route maps for each ride by following the link below. To see what Bike to Work Day was all about last year, watch this video! 

To register, click here.  

Forest Fest - May 16th

Forest Fest 2026 is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th, at Jefferson Memorial Forest  in Fairdale (Louisville), Kentucky. This family-friendly, annual festival celebrates bluegrass and americana music, featuring live music, nature activities, and local vendors. It is $15 per vehicle and the event runs in the from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM.

The line-up for the event includes Amelia Day, Denitia, The Tillers, Roadie and Fresh Cut Grass. Ticket information can be found on Do502 or LPM Events. 

Register for the SummerWorks 2026 Program

It's so exciting for young people of the community to take a step forward to their future careers by joining the SummerWorks 2026 program. Whether you are interested in technology, healthcare, or skilled trades, this city-wide initiative offers paid work experience that help you build a professional foundation while supporting Louisville.  Employers benefit from the talent, energy and diversity of Louisville's youth, while strengthening the city's future. Employers may visit this link to find out how to hire a SummerWorks youth employee!

Hear What You Need to Know about I-65 Closure at Public Meetings

I-65 is scheduled to close between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) on Monday, June 1st and reopen on Saturday, August 1st. Closing I-65 completely for 2 months saves at least a year of restrictions and construction delays. 

To explain and answer questions, TEAM Kentucky has scheduled two meetings in May. Hear why the closure is needed, what to expect, and how to get around.

The first meeting is May 5th at Dupont Manual High School, 120 W. Lee Street, Louisville and the second is May 12th at Spalding University, College Center, 812 S. Second Street, Louisville. Both meetings are from 5:30 - 7 PM. The presentation will start at 6 PM. For more information about the project and meetings, click here!

Pre-Paving and Paving for Week of April 27th

Weather permitting, the pre-paving/site work (including remove/replace curbs, ramps, ditching, shoulder work, and sidewalk work) and milling/paving locations for the upcoming week are above. Please note that all projects are of an advisory nature and subject to change. Please click here for the paving updates and for road closures, click here for the Road Closure webpage.

Water Company Closes Portion of Shepherdsville Road for Water Main Replacement

The Louisville Water Company applied for a permit PW-REP-26-01080 for a road closure on Shepherdsville Rd Between E Manslick Rd & E Manslick Rd.

*Water Main Replacement* - Beginning Date 04/15/2026 - End Date 06/27/2026

The traffic control plan and approved KYTC permit for viewing is above.

Conditional Use Permit Pre-Application – 9608 Titan Drive

Pop-Up Drop-Off - May 16th - Shawnee Park

For more information about the Pop-Up Drop-Up, May 16th at Shawnee Park from 10 AM - 2 PM and what you can bring and what not to bring, click here.

Library Events for May

May Artist-in-Residence - Sarah McCartt-Jackson - Poet

Award-winning Kentucky poet, folklorist, and educator Sarah McCartt-Jackson is the author of Stonelight, Calf Canyon, Vein of Stone, and Children Born on the Wrong Side of the River. Her poetry explores the relationships between people, places, and the natural world. She received an Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council and has earned multiple national awards, including the Weatherford Award in Poetry and the Phillip H. McMath Book Award. Sarah has also served as artist-in-residence for Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, Catoctin Mountain, and Homestead National Parks. Through her teaching in poetry and environmental education, she aims to helps others express their connection to the living world. While in residence, Sarah will turn poetry into an accessible, living practice within the library, and invite visitors to take part in the act of making poetry. Her aim is to show that poetry belongs to everyone and connects us all. Classes: Saturday, May 9, 11 AM      Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Found Poetry Saturday, May 16, 11 AM   The Answer in the Form of a Question: The Poetry of Asking Saturday, May 30, 1 PM      Woven Voices: A Collaborative Poetry Project Registration is required, please email Liz.Magee@lfpl.org

Maker Lab Open Hours

Maker Lab Open Hours at the South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd.  (502) 964-3515.  

- Tuesdays, May 5 - 19, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

-Wednesdays, April 29 - June 24, 12:30 - 4:30 PM

-Fridays, May 8 - June 26, 12:30 - 4:30 PM

Adults and teens (13+) are welcome to use the Maker Lab during open hours, however, they must complete the online Maker 101 orientation and sign the online waiver before using the equipment. Take the Maker 101 online orientation at by clicking here!

Homeschoolers STEAM Storytimes - May 4th - Electricity

Homeschooling elementary-aged kids and their families are invited to join in on Monday afternoons to explore stories, demonstrations and activity stations centered on the week's stupendous STEAM theme. South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd., (502) 964-3515.  Theme for May 4th - Electricity.

Family Playdates - Wednesdays in May

Family Playdate encourages meeting new families and enjoying social playtime in a relaxed, drop-in environment. For children 0-6, Wednesdays from 2 - 3:30 PM. The library provides the toys and coffee. At the South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd., (502) 964-3515.

Repurposing Small Tin Boxes - May 7th

Come to the library Thursday, May 7th at 6 -7 PM, to transform a small tin box into a fun art piece, a magnet or a mini keepsake box. Feel free to bring your own used Altoid tin or use the tins provided. For kids, teens and families at the South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd., (502) 964-3515. 

Short Stories Book Club in Spanish - May 11th

The goal of this club is to read short stories and talk about them in Spanish, while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. The meeting location for this club is the Heine Brothers on Outer Loop, and you must be 18+ to join. The club will meet Monday, May 11th, at 5:30 PM. Call the South Central Regional Library at (502) 964-3515, if you have any questions.

Teen Time - Mondays

Teen Time is for middle and high schoolers to gather in the teen space for video games, board games and simple craft projects. The Teen Space is open on Mondays from 4 - 6PM at the South Central Regional Library, 7300 Jefferson Blvd.   (502) 969-3515.

For further information on Councilwoman Ginny Mulvey-Woolridge or District 24 please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-24

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