From the Indianapolis Star:
The
City-County Council’s Public Works Committee tonight held back $8 million in
RebuildIndy money from next year’s budget to reserve as potential funding for
more police recruits.
The
panel amended and approved the Department of Public Works budget 5-2, with
Republicans dissenting. Public Works Director Lori Miser said holding back that
sum next year would reduce roadwork and other project spending from $50 million
to $42 million.
Democrats
left their intentions vague during the meeting. Afterward, Chairman Vernon
Brown, a Democrat, told The Indianapolis Star that he soon may file a proposal
to authorize spending from the RebuildIndy fund on police officers.
That
fits with Democratic
council leaders’ unveiling this week of budget changes that include
potentially spending RebuildIndy money, which came from the city’s utilities
sale, to expand plans to hire 50 recruits next year.
But
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, twice has vetoed proposals
similar to the one Brown may propose.
Recently,
the mayor opened the door to signing off on tapping utilities sale proceeds for
officer hiring — but only if the council’s majority Democrats agreed to
eliminate the homestead property tax credit. They refused to do so, most
recently on Monday.
The council is set to take a final vote
Oct. 14 on next year’s $1 billion city-county budget.
