Metro Council OKs 'productive' $822M budget

By a unanimous vote, the Metro Council approved a $822 million budget Thursday evening that moves around roughly $9.8 million in Mayor Greg Fischer's initial proposal and puts more emphasis on public safety surveillance and tackling the city's crumbling infrastructure.

Fischer said in a statement late Thursday that from "repairing our bumpy roads to helping build affordable housing" the new budget makes many key investments "while also taking care of many needs in Louisville, including repairing parks and metro buildings."

Top among the council's changes is about $212,000 more allocated to the Louisville Metro Police Department for additional security cameras and possible investments for Shotspotter, a gunshot locator technology that some members have argued is needed to pinpoint firearm crimes.  

Violent crime is on the rise this year with a 58 percent increase in homicides and 51 percent jump in shootings through May. Some residents who addressed members ahead of Thursday's vote bemoaned how more than 60 percent of taxpayer dollars are dedicated to police and other public safety departments without looking at other strategies to combat crime.

"I grow entirely frustrated with the money we keep giving to public safety but not to public well-being. That is what we're missing," Chanelle Helm, a member of Stand Up Louisville, a grassroots group, told members.

Councilman Bill Hollander, a Fischer ally, said his colleagues did make investments in people when it approved of the mayor's $2.5 million commitment to the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which had been starved of revenue since its inception in 2008. The council also added about half a million dollars to the city's community services budget, including $245,300 more for nonprofit groups such as Family Scholar House, ProjectOne, Fund for The Arts and the House of Ruth. 

"It's a start on a huge need for safe, decent, affordable places to live," said Hollander, D-9th District. "As the economy improves, Louisville can’t leave working families behind."

READ MORE: Fischer calls tweaks to budget plan 'solid'

Other changes made to Fischer's budget boosted infrastructure spending by adding $5 million for road paving, which brings the total allotment to $23 million. That is the amount Public Works officials had said would be needed annually over the next decade to catch up with the city's $110 million road deficit.

"We'll have to stick with this commitment, but if we do we will pay down that debt," said Council President David Yates, D-25th.

Yates, in his first year as president, had been accused of stacking the Budget Committee by council Republicans earlier this year. Kevin Kramer, chair of the GOP caucus, however, said members were able to focus on important issues across party lines. 

"The budget process was smooth and productive," he said.

The council attached expectations to the budget such as a requirement that Metro Public Works deliver a three-year paving plan next April, require 63 percent of funding be used for the worst-rated roads, and submit monthly reports outlining its paving schedule and progress. It also asks Metro Corrections reports to address jail overcrowding, an outcome report on Fischer's teen summer jobs program, and for the housing trust fund to provide monthly financial reports summarizing their activity.

Council members were able to reallocate the $9.8 million through savings and other reductions it made. Among those cuts, for instance, were a 30 percent slash to a half a million dollar allotment the mayor's office made for more bike lanes, which were regularly criticized by some members throughout the hearings.

Other adjustments to Fischer's budget proposal approved by committee members were:

• $455,000 for Metro Corrections improvements such as smoke evacuation, door lock repairs and fire safety plans;
• $1.09 million to repair the worst rated sidewalks; 
• $500,000 to the Healing Place's capital campaign;
• $550,000 for Metro Parks improvements;
• and $500,000 for tree planting initiative to reduce the city's heat island. 

The mayor is expected to sign the budget before July 1.

Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at (502) 582-4475 or pbailey@courier-journal.com