INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday night, the City-County Council passed the 2024 operating budget unanimously with bipartisan support.
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.
Among the top priorities are public safety, anti-violence efforts, infrastructure and neighborhoods.
IMPD is receiving the largest chunk of the budget with $323 million. It is the largest total in the department's history. Some of it will go toward improving technology like dash cameras, license plate readers and drones.
“Also, more city cameras so that we can find those people who are committing crimes and take care of that a lot quicker,” IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said.
The funds will also be used to recruit and retain officers, which includes a 3% raise for veteran officers and a $72,000 starting salary for first-year recruits.
Right now, the department is short of more than 300 officers despite hiring nearly 800 since 2016. Taylor said this challenge is a national issue but believes the increase in money will help put Indianapolis in a good position to increase its force.
The 2024 budget will also expand the Clinician-Led Community Response program to the department's East District and make the peacemakers program permanent.
As for the city’s infrastructure, the approved budget with increase the city’s five-year capital plan from $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion. That money is used to fix roads, sidewalks, bridges and trails. It also includes $25 million for residential streets.
“We have literally tripled that size of the capital plan in literally eight years,” Department of Public Works director Brandon Hegert said. “I think that is something all our residents should be proud of, and we’ve been able to do that without raising taxes.”
More information about the budget can be found here.
Statement from Mayor Joe Hogsett
“I want to thank President Osili, Vice President Adamson, Leaders Lewis and Mowery, and all councillors for their significant collaboration and support of our spending priorities,” said Mayor Hogsett. “The passage of this budget is a major victory for Indianapolis residents, as we invest unprecedented resources towards law enforcement and public safety, reinforce our commitment to community-based violence reduction, transform infrastructure at the large-scale and community level, and improve neighborhoods throughout our city.”
Statement from Republican mayoral candidate Jefferson Shreve
“I’m glad to see the increased funding for public safety, but no amount of money is going to make Joe Hogsett an effective mayor. His budgets pass every year, without better results. We've had the budget for a fully staffed police force; yet we're 300 officers short. 800 have left, deciding they don’t want to work for him. This is not a fiscal issue, this is a leadership issue. Mayor Hogsett’s had eight years — it’s time for a change, and I look forward to leading our city under this budget."
Statement from the Republican Caucus of the City-County Council
"Tonight, we voted in favor of the proposed 2024 budget for the City of Indianapolis. Our caucus does not make this decision lightly, and we recognize that this budget does not perfectly represent our or our constituents’ priorities. However, considering our city is in the midst of a public safety crisis and the fact that IMPD is facing dangerously low staffing levels, we did not feel that it was time for a political statement. It is our hope and expectation that the money appropriated tonight will help to bring new officers on board and keep our veteran officers serving our community. Despite the increased funding in the last few budgets, the administration has failed to deliver on the promises of better public safety and hiring and retaining officers. Moving forward, it will be the focus of our caucus to ensure that the dollars allocated tonight are used for their intended purposes and in a timely manner to make sure we are not in this same position this time next year."
Statement from City-County Council President Vop Osili:
“The bipartisan support for Mayor Hogsett’s budget reflects its alignment with the priorities of constituents across our city’s 25 Council districts. The result of that alignment and cooperation between Mayor Hogsett and members of Council is a budget that provides for critical investments in public safety, infrastructure, and improvements to the quality of life in our neighborhoods—without increasing taxes on residents or requiring the sale of public assets. I want to thank Mayor Hogsett and his team for their commitment to working with the Council to support resilient neighborhoods and vibrant communities across Indianapolis. I’m proud of this city, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done together on behalf of our constituents.”