LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Greg Fischer unveiled his final budget proposal to Louisville Metro Council members on Wednesday.

The $1.3 billion budget — an increase from the $1.1 billion spending plan the city is operating on this fiscal year — emphasizes public safety.

“We also need a whole-of-government approach so all of our departments are focused on what they can do with public safety,” Fischer said. “And a whole-of-city approach so everybody in the community can play a part in that as well.”

Fischer’s budget includes funding for three Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) recruiting classes, hoping to get to 1,200 officers in three years.  

It also includes $6 million for the first phase of a new LMPD training facility, and $3.7 million for improvements at the Department of Corrections, plus a variety of other programs.  

“What’s important is this budget really puts together a comprehensive approach towards public safety,” Fischer said. “So it’s not just law enforcement, it’s the non-law enforcement aspects of intervention, prevention, community center programs, education, so that’s about another $40 or $50 million dollars.

Several of the individual items in Fischer’s budget are projects paid for with money from federal COVID relief bills.

“We’re planning ahead for the eventual elimination or removal of those funds, but it will require some decisions by the next mayor and the next council to deal with,” he said.

And Fischer said a lot of the overall budget increase goes to wages or to make up for inflation.

“We increased everybody’s wages 8% — a minimum 8% — last year just to stay with the market. We’re now more competitive,” he said. “Some of our departments have openings as high as 20-25% right now, so we still have a challenge in terms of fully staffing our workforce.”

Fischer’s budget also sets aside $25 million for the city’s rainy day fund and to make up for any potential budget shortfalls in the future, so he said it sets up the next mayor to succeed.

Among some of the other highlights in Fischer’s budget:

• $10 million for affordable housing programs
• 3 million matching grant for Evolve502, which helps JCPS students pay for higher education
• $1.4 million for a new Louisville Fire Department burn building to help with training
• $11.5 million to complete a new dispatch center and records management system
• $1.5 million for a new Mobile Emergency Operations Center
• $5 million to help with an expansion of the Louisville Zoo
• $4 million to help with an expansion of Waterfront Park

Council members said they didn’t get the chance to see Fischer’s budget proposal until his budget address Thursday afternoon, although Democratic councilman Markus Winkler said he liked the investments made in public safety.

“What was presented today is a testament to the strength and resilience of our local economy,” Winkler said. “And I think that’s something we should all be proud of, and look for that growth to continue in the future.”

Several council members who spoke during a press conference following the budget address said they were relieved to be talking about where to make investments as opposed to where to make cuts, although Republican councilman Anthony Piagentini warned against spending too much.

“When times are good and money is flowing, you see people start to get loose with their principles,” he said. “And we can’t do that, even in good times.”

Piagentini also said he wants to make sure the budget invests evenly across the entire city, not just in certain areas.

Fischer said he expects the council to finalize a budget in the next six weeks so it’s ready before the new fiscal year begins July 1.