LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Council voted to approve the 2024-2025 spending plan.

The budget dedicates much of the money to public safety, infrastructure, parks and recreation and affordable housing.

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville Metro Council voted 22 to 1 approving the 2024-2025 spending plan

  •  In April, Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, shared his $1.1 billion budget proposal

  • It comes after a period where American Rescue Plan funding helped make progress and the Kentucky General Assembly invested more than $700 million into the city

  • The budget goes into effect on July 1

On Thursday, the Metro Council allocated $375,000 for costs related to the Department of Justice consent decree, funds to increase officer recruitment, and designated $4 million for a new Louisville Metro Police Department helicopter. 

Five million dollars will help fund opioid-related initiatives, $800,000 will be spent on repairs for the Louisville Fire Department, and $2 million for repairs at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.

Close to $50 million will fund infrastructure improvements. This includes $10 million to revamp the Belvedere.

Metro Council increased funding for deferred maintenance, bringing the total to $2.9 million. 

Councilmember Shameka Parrish-Wright, Dist. 3, was the only person who voted down the operating budget.

“But I cannot in the whole heart vote for this budget as is. it is not what the people needs,” Parrish-Wright said.

Among her concerns, she disagrees with Mayor Craig Greenberg’s D-Louisville, plans for $5 million to fund, through Thrive by Five Louisville, to provide pre-K to all Louisville residents.

“There’s ethics concerns over the Louisville Economic Development Alliance. Former Metro employees say there’s not enough transparency. Councilman [Jecorey] Arthur also asked about the seemingly private use of public dollars. The Thrive by Five, as I am a mother of six and grandmother of four, and all of my kids went through Early Headstart is a good idea, but the framework shows a hiring of a couple of people and a website that does not take $5 million to achieve in this budget when we have a myriad of organizations,” Parrish-Wright said.

After the passage, Greenberg thanked the council for the bipartisan support. He said, “It builds on our historic investments from the Kentucky General Assembly with a $5 million down payment on Thrive by Five, the new nonprofit we created to make free universal early education for every 3- and 4-year-old a reality. And it provides millions more for investments in our downtown and parks to also leverage the state’s recent investments.”

Metro Council also approved the capital budget.

The budget goes into effect on July 1.

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