LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, shared his $1.1 billion budget proposal Thursday, April 25. 

The proposed budget 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.

"Thanks to a strong economy, record investments, increased revenues and the responsible management of taxpayers' dollars, Louisville is in a strong position to achieve meaningful progress on our priorities," Greenberg said. "This budget required tough decisions, but decisions that will move our city forward in a new direction and benefit every single resident and neighborhood."

The mayor's office said the Metro Council will now review the budget and see it through a review process that includes hearings and a budget vote prior to July 1.

More than $448 million is dedicated toward improving public safety, the mayor's office said. Louisville saw a decrease in homicides, non-fatal shootings and carjackings in 2023.

Greenberg's office said he's dedicated to continuing that progress by recruiting and retaining more officers, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and correctional officers. The city is also focused on making first responder wages competitive and bringing them in line with other areas in the region to increase recruitment and retention.

Among other things, funding will also help support new license plate readers and MetroWatch Cameras for the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), along with new technical search and rescue gear for the Louisville Fire Department (LFD). 

“Far too many of our Louisville families have lost a loved one and had their worlds ripped apart by violence,” Greenberg said. “We must invest in the resources needed to identify the people taking part in these crimes so that we can get them off the streets, protect more lives and ultimately make Louisville a safer city.”

In addition, the proposed budget puts forward nearly $32 million to Greenberg's goal of creating or preserving 15,000 affordable housing units by 2027. The mayor said affordable housing helps Louisville thrive, benefiting the city's overall economy and health.

"From creating more quality homes to finding ways to end homelessness, we are taking a holistic approach to finding real solutions to our biggest challenges," he said.

Greenberg also proposed the following investments:  

• $5 million toward Thrive by 5 Louisville, a 501c3 nonprofit he announced in March to create a pathway to universal pre-K for every 3- and 4-year-old in the city
• $50 million toward street paving, sidewalk repairs, guardrail replacements and traffic calming solutions, along with other projects to enhance quality of life
• $7.1 million toward general parks repairs
• $2 million to raising salaries and funding operations for areas that include key personnel in Public Works, new library operations, a new Park Ranger program, the Baxter Community Center reopening and more

The Louisville Metro Council's Budget Committee will also review the recommended budget during May and June, with hearings beginning the first full week of May. Twenty-one hearings are set, along with one community budget hearing dedicated for public comment. 

Greenberg's full budget address can be found in full online.