INDIANAPOLIS -- Mayor Joe Hogsett presented his 2025 spending plan to the Indianapolis City-County Council Monday night amid uncertainty over how his administration handled sexual harassment allegations leveled at his former senior aide.
The proposed budget is worth a total of $1.6 billion for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County. It includes significant investments in public safety, anti-violence initiatives, traffic safety and more funding for police. A significant portion of funds have also been allocated for pedestrian safety and a new animal shelter.
Approximately $305 million will also be used to fund street projects through a capital plan meant to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, with the 2025 proposal worth about $90 million more than last year's budget.
Under the new budget, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department would receive an injection of $338 million — $14 million more than last year. This includes investments in updated technologies for officers such as license plate readers, public safety cameras, dash cameras and body-worn cameras.
"Our goal is simple; make IMPD the best trained and preeminent police force in the entire country," Hogsett told the council.
The department’s budget would fully fund more than 1,700 officers and three recruitment classes a year. Hogsett said this is critical to hiring more officers and reducing crime across the Circle City.
"Over 2022 and 2023, we saw a 32% decrease in criminal homicides in this community," he said.
The funding will also go toward a 30-officer pilot program designed to "ensure 24/7 coverage in each police district."
The Indianapolis Fire Department would be allocated $258 million, representing roughly a $3 million increase from last year's budget.
"We will continue to support the men and women of IFD by maintaining the 10-year fleet replacement program, funding a new arson unit and building new fire stations," Hogsett said.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works would also receive $246 million, an increase of $14 million compared to the previous year's allotment. Overall, Hogsett said his proposed budget for DPW in 2025 is more than three times the department's budget back in 2016.
Hogsett said DPW's funding will be used to improve roadway infrastructure, trails and overall traffic safety.
"Since 2016 the city has added 25 miles of new trails for biking, walking and running," the mayor described. "And over the next four years there will be an additional 45 miles of trails added to our city's trail systems."
The 2025 budget focuses heavily on public safety, which includes creating a new position tasked with eliminating all pedestrian and traffic-related deaths. The budget refers to this as the Vision Zero plan.
"We need to keep up this work until no one, regardless of whether you’re driving, biking or walking in our streets, no one loses a family member or neighbor to preventable traffic crashes," Hogsett said.
A total of $4.5 million has also been put toward a gun violence reduction initiative that is part of the Circle City's "Peacemakers" program.
The budget also sets aside nearly $200 million for roads, bridges and other greenway improvements throughout Indy as part of a five-year capital plan intended to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Nearly $70 million will be allocated for stormwater system improvements in communities throughout Indy.
This year's budget has been proposed while the city is in the midst of contract negotiations with IMPD, IFD, the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and other agencies. How those negotiations play out in the near future could have an impact on the conditions of any proposed budget.
Now that Mayor Hogsett has introduced his 2025 spending plan, city department heads will submit their proposed budgets in the next few weeks.
The Republican City-County Council Caucus issued a response to Hogsett's proposal on Monday night, saying they would like to collaborate on a budget that "spends within our means."
"We look forward to working with the mayor and council Democrats to craft a budget that spends within our means and prioritizes the duties of local government," said Joe Elsener with the caucus. "Throughout this budget process, we will be focused on making sure public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and vital quality of life projects are being appropriately funded."
The proposed budget will need to be approved by multiple committees in the city-county council before receiving final approval.
The city's full 2025 budget proposal can be viewed online here.
Michael Van Schoik contributed to this report.