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'Reflects our priorities': Metro Council approves amended fiscal budget for 2023-24

The budget committee approved the amended Capital and Operating budgets on Tuesday and sent it to the full council for approval.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The full Metro Council approved an amended version of the mayor's proposed fiscal budget on Thursday.

The budget committee approved the amended versions of the Capital and Operating Budgets on Tuesday and sent them to the full council for approval.

“Metro Council’s passage of this budget is great news for Louisville. The unanimous support it received speaks to the collaborative, inclusive, and community-focused process with which this budget was developed," Mayor Craig Greenberg said.

He thanked everyone for participating in creating the budget which he said "provides a real roadmap for building a safer, stronger, and healthier Louisville."

Metro Council President Marcus Winkler said the budget "reflects our priorities."

“I think this year’s budget reflects our priorities of allocating resources across the city, focusing on areas that are important to our residents. Whether it’s enhancing public safety, improving parks, or strengthening core infrastructure, we will be making significant investments in every corner of our county," he said.

The Louisville Metro Police Department is getting nearly $30 million more than last year for a total police budget of $222 million.

In a statement, LMPD said:

LMPD is grateful to members of Metro Council for their support as we continue towards our goal of providing high-level protection and safety to the public. Mayor Greenberg’s budget proposal for LMPD focused on investing in the necessary tools and resources to help mitigate violent crime. It promotes providing safe atmospheres for our residents and visitors. The funding provided will assist with recruitment and retention of officers, efforts to improve constitutional policing, facility improvements, and critical equipment/resources for LMPD officers. Implementing this budget will strengthen the police department, which ultimately enhances public safety for Louisville’s communities.

That vote was easy since council members spent most of their time discussing the budget for TARC.

"We wrote a letter to TARC explaining our concern that it was pretty much ignored we really don't feel like we have any other recourse at this point," Councilman Kevin Kramer said.

If the TARC budget had received 12 no votes, the busses would have stopped running on July 1. Council members chimed in with why they needed to vote yes.

Then, Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe introduced a proposal that would force restaurants to cut back on the number of single-use plastics they use.

"Moving us on and adding this additional burden to restaurants is unnecessary," said Councilman Khalil Batshon.

Ultimately the ordinance was sent back.

"So I am in support of sending it back so that we can work together, I think that we can have a lot more collaboration between the opposing sides than what you're hearing tonight," Councilman Jecorey Arthur said.

Overall, Metro Council President Markus Winkler said you can see money invested in most every area of the city.

"We've got record investment in infrastructure, record investment in our parks and then also changes that complement our public safety strategy," he said.

To view the amended budget documents, click here.

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