INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett unveiled his plan for the city’s 2024 operating budget. It was presented to the City-County Council Monday night in front of a packed room.
The $1.561 billion proposed budget is the largest in the city’s history, with a 6.7% increase compared to last year's $1.462 billion budget.
“It is clear Indianapolis is back. It’s clear Indianapolis is on a roll,” Hogsett said during his speech to the council.
Among the top priorities are public safety, anti-violence efforts, infrastructure and neighborhoods.
Public safety
The city looks to continue its three-year, $150 million public safety strategy that focuses on law enforcement, community-based anti-violence efforts and the root causes of crime.
“Since we implemented that strategy, we have experienced declines in nearly every major crime category,” Hogsett said. “In no way are we declaring victory. Downward trends aren’t the same as meeting a goal.”
The city is budgeting $323 million for IMPD, which is the largest total in history.
First-year IMPD recruit wages would increase to $72,000, along with a 3% overall raise for veteran IMPD officers.
RELATED: View the 2024 proposed city budget
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies and members of the Indianapolis Fire Department will also receive retention bonuses.
As for public safety technology, $1.5 million is budgeted for dashcams, license plate readers and cameras.
As previously announced by Hogsett, there is also funding set aside for the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney partnership to help file more federal gun crimes in Marion County.
Community violence reduction
In the budget, the newly announced Clinician-Led Community Response team would receive money to expand to the east side. They are currently only focused on the downtown area.
“This budget will fund that team’s expansion into the east district, bringing us closer to a fully staffed, 24/7, clinician-led response for some of our highest-volume call areas,” Hogsett said.
It would also double the capacity of the city’s Assessment and Intervention Center.
As federal recovery dollars dwindle, the city also plans to set aside money to keep the Peacemaker program funded.
Infrastructure
Indianapolis looks to continue with its five-year capital plan to improve roads, bridges, sidewalks, trails, bike lanes and drainage. Instead of $1.1 billion, the city is increasing it to $1.2 billion.
"That includes an added $25 million for residential streets, now totaling more than $100 million since 2021. Through that funding, we have secured full rehabs for stretches of roadway that have been overlooked for decades,” Hogsett said. “The overall infrastructure plan also includes measures to improve pedestrian safety and support projects that calm historically dangerous streets.”
Neighborhoods
The city is partnering with the council and the Marion County Commissioners to start a pilot program of the anti-displacement tool in the Riverside neighborhood. It's part of a Senate bill the General Assembly passed earlier this year.
“The law gives us an additional tool to keep longtime residents in their homes by limiting the explosive growth in property tax assessments experienced by far too many,” Hogsett said.
The budget proposal also calls for new public safety cameras at nine Indy Parks.
Plus, it would give the Department of Business and Neighborhood Service $2 million to repair neighborhood alleys.
RELATED: View the 2023 city budget
According to Hogsett, this proposed budget would not increase taxes for Marion County residents in 2024.
The proposed budget will now head to the council committees for review before the full council takes a vote in mid-October.
Mayoral candidate Jefferson Shreve was also at the budget meeting Monday night. He is running as a Republican against Hogsett.
If he wins the election, he will inherit the budget passed by the council. It’s why he said he is paying close attention to it and plans to voice his opinions at the upcoming committee hearings.
“I don’t feel like people in Marion County generally feel like we are safer with both violent and nonviolent crimes, criminal homicides, stabbings,” Shreve said. “We got work to do, and it is important that we fund those resources to protect the citizens of this city — not just on violent crime, but property level crimes.”
City-County Council Minority Leader Brian Mowery responded to the proposed budget in a statement Monday evening:
"Last year, we accomplished a bipartisan budget that included increased funding for hiring more police officers. Despite the increase in dedicated funds, Mayor Hogsett failed to deliver on that promise, and now we have a dangerously understaffed IMPD with roughly 300 fewer officers than needed. Throughout this budget process, we hope to hear from the mayor as to why under his leadership, IMPD is still failing to fill its ranks, despite increased funding."
"We look forward to combing through and discussing the details over the coming weeks."
City-County Council President Vop Osili also issued a statement after Monday's meeting:
"I would like to thank Mayor Hogsett for introducing the City’s 2024 proposed budget at tonight’s Council meeting. Mayor Hogsett’s budget request includes improving quality of life by investing in neighborhoods, infrastructure, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and expanding mental health services with the additional investment in the Clinician-Led Community Response program. Working alongside the Mayor’s Administration, my colleagues and I are committed to supporting resilient neighborhoods. I look forward to engaging with Indianapolis' city and county agencies during the budget process."