LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The budget state lawmakers finalized last week includes millions worth of investments in Louisville.
GOP leaders were in Louisville on Tuesday to tour those investments after some Democrats called the legislature's targeting of the state's largest city the "war on Louisville."
What You Need To Know
- Lawmakers finalized a two-year budget last week, including multiple projects in Louisville
- University of Louisville, Waterfront Park, and the Louisville Zoo were among the places receiving money
- Senate GOP leaders defended other laws passed this session that target Louisville, including a bill allowing new cities to form within Jefferson County
The list includes $10 million to fund an expansion of the Louisville Zoo.
“We’re going to be developing a project with indigenous animals from Kentucky,” said Debbie King, who chairs the Louisville Zoo Foundation Board. “Habitat theaters, water features, paddle boats, a lot of indoor space for events and that sort of thing.”
King said there are 20 undeveloped acres at the zoo, and the $10 million coming from state lawmakers in Frankfort will fund a third of what they've got planned.
“[It will fund] things that we have needed a long time at the zoo,” she said.
The investment is one of many for Louisville included in the state budget.
“And I want to make sure that everybody is well aware that we have intentionally put these dollars there to see Louisville grow and prosper,” Sen. Julie Raque Adams (R-Louisville) said.
Also among the list of Louisville-specific items on the budget: $10 million to help expand Waterfront Park.
“It’s a game-changer, this funding.” Deborah Bilitski, executive director of Waterfront Park, said.
Also on the list:
- $221 million for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center
- $82 million for the University of Louisville
- $65 million for the UofL Speed School
- $12 million for the Louisville Arena Authority/YUM! Center
- $10 million for the Bucks for Brains program
- $6 million for Simmons College to expand its academic offerings
These investments come after debate on other bills some Louisville lawmakers — primarily Democrats — said were targeted specifically at Louisville. This includes House Bill 314, which allows for the creation of new cities within Jefferson County, something opponents said could cost Metro Louisville millions of dollars.
“This is a war on Louisville,” Rep. Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville) said on March 14. “This is the East End pitting ourselves against our urban core.”
Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) said the “War on Louisville” comments are just politics.
“We have come to invest in Louisville because it’s our economic engine in this state,” he said. “And I think it has been proven by what we have done in our budget; there is no war on Louisville.”
And he said the money invested in Louisville this year will make it a more appealing destination.