From the Indianapolis Star:
Ahead of tonight’s final budget vote by the Indianapolis City-County Council, chamber leaders and aides to Mayor Greg Ballard this afternoon detailed a proposed deal that would pay for 80 police recruits next year.
The $15 million plan would plug an expected $9 million gap in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s static 2014 budget — plus would pay for more police recruits and delayed 3 percent raises for firefighters and police officers.
It would tap three funding sources: a $6.9 million loan from RebuildIndy utilities sale proceeds that are parked in a fiscal stability fund; $2.4 million from the mostly depleted rainy day fund; and $5.7 million remaining as the city’s share in a newly available transition account that was part of the sale of the water and utilities to Citizens Energy Group two years ago. That money, which was included in $25 million set aside to cover unforeseen expenses arising from the utility sale, wasn’t available until two years after the sale’s completion, mayoral Chief of Staff Ryan Vaughn said. That milestone passed recently. Citizens also received a portion of the remainder.
Today’s proposed accord came down to smoothing over disagreements between Democratic council leaders and the Republican mayor over which funds to tap to balance the budget.
If the budget passes with the amendments, as council leaders expect, they likely would avert major line-item vetoes by Ballard of the sort he used last year to force Democrats back into negotiations.
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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013310140049
