LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Greg Fischer pitched his $986 million spending plan for the next fiscal year Thursday, as Louisville Metro Council members watched and listened to Fischer's video budget address.

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Greg Fischer delivered his $986 million city spending plan Thursday, boosting funds for public safety

  • Metro Council members promise to check Fischer on the details before approving or changing the plan

  • Fischer wants to increase public safety spending from $5 million to $19 million, for programs other than law enforcement

  • Citizens will have chances to weigh-in with their thoughts before a budget is passed this summer

The plan proposes quadrupling the public safety spending, on programs to fight crime that don't necessarily involve police. That accounts for about $19 million of the budget. Members reacted to the plan Fischer's office touted as "bullish," saying they will review the budget carefully because "the devil is in the details."

Fischer began his address with a quote from Pres. Joe Biden, saying "Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget." He announced some $400 million in federal relief funding Louisville will receive, beginning May 10. He then proposed how to spend the city's money. There's much focus on racial equity and curbing crime. 

Various expenditures would include assistance for small businesses, help for minority-owned businesses and business development in West Louisville, an expansion of Waterfront Park into West Louisville, broadband internet expansion, expanding the Office of Equity, more affordable housing funding, and much more. Fischer hopes to give a hand-up to Black businesses, pushing toward equity across the city. 

He also hopes to increase public safety funding considerably. That doesn't just mean dollars given to law enforcement. He calls it "re-imagining public safety," investing in crime interventions, prevention, mental health resources, and other things like establishing the Office of the Inspector General for the new Civilian Review Board, Group Violence Intervention (GVI), and the Pivot to Peace program in hospitals.

On the surface, some council members said it looked good. 

"At sort of the top-line level, you know, the investments in public safety are critical. You can't go through an environment with the homicide rate that we've had, without making an investment to try to address that issue," said Councilman Markus Winkler (D- District 17).

President David James (D- District 6) stressed that he and members were getting their first look at Fischer's proposal, and need more time to delve into the details. However, he too said the public safety plan looked good.

"It's important that we don't put all of our eggs in one basket, meaning that we can't depend on the police department to be the only source of crime prevention in our community. It's a multifaceted thing," James commented.

Another member, Councilman Anthony Piagentini (R- District 19), emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the spending plan. He brought up memories of years past.

"Up until two-plus years ago when this Metro Council went through one of the toughest budget cycles we went through in decades ... this budget had been structurally unsound for every year of the mayor's term. We had expenses outpacing revenues every single year. That year, led by the Metro Council, was the turning point," Piagentini said. "If it was up to the mayor, none of those cuts would've been made."

The spending plan will have to go through Metro Council for approval, for a budget to ultimately pass no later than June. Before then, there will be meetings where citizens can comment with their thoughts on the matter.

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