In past years, Mayor Scott Fadness has presented his budget plans to the City Council Finance Committee before presenting his proposal to the full Council.  This year, the mayor presented his 2024 spending plan to the full Council first, then sent the proposal to the Finance Committee.

Wednesday evening, the Finance Committee received a detailed fiscal plan from contractor Mike Reuter.  I was not provided with a copy of that plan, but Reuter indicated some numbers in that plan could be subject to change once more details become available.

The details of the presentation would likely confuse many, so suffice it to say that the city’s income situation appears stable, although the extra Local Option Income Tax cash coming from Carmel as a result of action by the Indiana General Assembly was a three-year deal and will be coming to an end soon.

Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren emphasized that Mayor Fadness has not used that additional income tax distribution from Carmel for year-to year budget items, knowing the funds will end.  Last month, Carmel filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming the law giving Fishers some of Carmel’s income tax money is unconstitutional.

Following Reuter’s rundown, Hultgren briefed the committee on how the Fadness Administration is proposing to spend part of the Carmel income tax money, to the tune of $12 million.

Here is the mayor’s proposal:

–$2,2 million for trail connectivity

—$800,000 for a trail node at Hub & Spoke, including rest room facilities

–$3.5 million for landscaping, particularly on medians, replacing grass so city staff will not need to endanger themselves while cutting grass

–$1 million is earmarked for sidewalk repairs in neighborhoods throughout the city

–$750,000 for a Neighborhood Vibrancy program, providing an 80% city match, up from the previous dollar-for-dollar match

–$250,000 would to go an Urban Forestry program

–$3 million would be utilized for a 96th Street Vibrancy Program

–$500,000 in Teacher Innovation Micro Grants, where teachers at HSE Schools would submit requests for funding and a committee of retired teachers will decide the awarding of these grants.

The next Finance Committee budget meeting is set for 8:30am, Monday, September 11, with department heads explaining their budget requests.