LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg presented his first budget address to Louisville Metro Council on Thursday.
Greenberg's budget increases funding for violence prevention, affordable housing, homeless service, infrastructure improvements, pay increases for Louisville Metro employees and other "top" priorities according to a press release.
The next step is for the mayor's budget to be considered by the Louisville Metro Council Budget Committee, which is scheduled to start public hearings on May 8.
The release states the $868 million budget is an increase of 3.5% over the previous budget, after removing non-recurring revenue.
Greenberg's budget leaves $83.4 million in the city's rainy day fund, after removing non-recurring revenue. Officials say this is the "largest amount in the city's history."
In front of a packed house in city hall, Greenberg unveiled his administration's $1.1 billion-dollar budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
Some Metro Council members applauded it for being a bold and ambitious proposal. Greenberg said it's all about meeting the moment.
"It's a moment that demands new thinking and new approaches as we take on a collection of challenges," he said.
On top of mind for many right now is the city's ongoing gun crisis.
It's why a pillar of Greenberg's budget is addressing public safety.
He wants to create a new Department of Group Violence Intervention, setting aside $230,000 for that effort. Another $500,000 aims to expand the city's 911 mental health deflection program.
"We'd also like to expand the services so that even more calls can go to the people who are providing mental health services," Greenberg said. "That way we can serve even more people who are calling 911 for nonviolent crime emergencies."
Under that same public safety umbrella is Louisville Metro Police (LMPD).
LMPD will receive a total of $222 million-- a 2% increase from last year. Of that, $2.3 million is specifically carved out for creating 33 new positions within LMPD to further reform efforts laid out by the Department of Justice's report.
Officials say those positions include several new training positions at the police academy; new positions in homicide investigations; new civilian investigators for certain cases, so that sworn officers can focus on community policing and preventing crime; and new positions in victims services.
Money will also fund bringing more license plate readers and traffic cameras to Metro streets.
"The intention is to put it in areas where there has been the highest rates of crime," the mayor said.
Beyond public safety, the budget contains a whole slew of initiatives.
"When we talk about public safety of course we have to talk about LMPD," Greenberg said. "We need to continue to invest in reforms and improvements of LMPD that are consistent with the US Department of Justice Report, and will continue to make LMPD, the most trusted, the best trained, and the most transparent Police Department in America."
Greenberg's has set aside $27 million total to fight Louisville's growing housing crisis.
The houseless population has spiked about 140% since last year.
Greenberg is looking to bring more resources to downtown Louisville. The area does not have a grocery store. Other mayors have tried, and Greenberg is throwing in $6 million worth of subsidies, aimed at enticing grocery stores to move into the city.
Also under Greenberg's proposal, Louisville would see the creation of a Department of Transportation and Department of Public Records.
The total proposed budget is approximately $1.1 billion, including the capital budget.
"Since being sworn in, it has been a privilege to serve with the more than 5,000 team members of Louisville Metro Government who are working toward a safer, stronger, healthier city," Greenberg said.
For the complete schedule of budget hearings, click here.
Here's some key additions of Greenberg's budget proposal:
- Addressing Gun Violence - $730,000
- Homelessness and Affordable Housing - $27,940,000
- Louisville Parks - $5,050,000
- Simmons College - $5,000,000
- LMPD - $6,814,000
- Victim Services - $166,000
- Public Safety - $653,000
- Pre-K - $500,000
- Downtown Louisville - $20,127,000
- LouMed - $3,150,000
- Public Works - $37,590,100
- Open Records - $475,100
- Arts and Tourism - $735,000
- Economic Development - $550,000
- KentuckianaWorks - $2,000,000
- Library - $470,000
- Codes and Regulation - $2,100,000
- Public Health and Wellness - $2,000,000
- Metro Facilities - $2,500,000
- Talent Retention and Recruitment - $20,027,400
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