Fishers 2022 budget gets final approval after pickleball discussion

The Fishers City Council gave final unanimous approval to the 2022 calendar year budget Monday night, but first addressed concerns from residents in the River Glen neighborhood.

The 2022 city spending plan totals $121.64 million, with $40 million to be stashed in cash reserves, about $10 million more in reserve than guidelines require.

Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren presented the budget Monday night.  According to Hultgren, Mayor Scott Fadness was out of town Monday working on a “substantial economic development opportunity.”  He did not provide any further details.

Residents of River Glen had discovered in recent days that the city was planning to spend $300,000 transforming the current tennis court at River Glen into several Pickleball courts.  About 4 homeowners with property adjacent to the current tennis facility objected to the noise that would be created with a number of pickleball courts.

Hultgren addressed that concern immediately in his budget presentation, saying the proposed pickleball courts would be located on the west side of the city, not necessarily at River Glen.  The decision on an exact location of the pickleball facility would be done at a later date.

The council also unanimously approved the 2022 salary ordinance, providing a 4% pay increase for all city employees, including elected officials.