The Louisville Metro Council approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget for Metro Government Thursday with bi-partisan support.
Mayor Craig Greenberg presented his budget on April 25. Then beginning in May, the Budget Committee held a series of budget and public hearings to receive direct input from department directors. The Metro Council also received over a thousand budget comments from Louisville residents.
The approved FY25 Operating and Capital budgets address the city’s needs, without adding additional debt above the Mayor’s recommended budget. Here is a summary of the approved budget.
Public Safety: The budget allocates $375,000 towards costs associated with the Department of Justice consent decree, adds funds to increase officer recruitment, and designates $4 million for a new LMPD helicopter. The budget includes funding for license plate readers to enhance law enforcement’s ability to locate stolen vehicles. It also provides $5 million to fund opioid-related initiatives, $800,000 in general repairs for the Louisville Fire Department, and $2 million in general repairs for Corrections.
Infrastructure: The budget increases the recommended street paving allocation by $8 million for a total of $30 million. It allocates more funding for structure repair, guardrail replacement, traffic control, signage, and pavement markings, enhancing street and road safety. Additionally, it provides $1 million for alley paving, $2 million for sidewalk repairs, and includes $4.4 million for new vehicles and equipment for Public Works & Assets.
Parks & Recreation: Metro Council increased funding for deferred maintenance, bringing the total to $2.9 million. The budget includes $1.9 million for new vehicles and equipment, staffing the Playtorium Community Center for at least 20 hours a week, a Park Ranger pilot program, and reopening the Baxter Community Center. It also adds funding to reopen and staff the Algonquin and Camp Taylor Park pools in 2025. Funding to continue work at Jefferson Memorial Forest, Windsor Park, Farnsley Moorman Historic Home and Hayes Kennedy Park along with other park improvements were added as part of the Metro Council’s amendment to the Mayor’s budget.
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