The Indianapolis City-County Council voted on October 19 to approve Mayor Joe Hogsett's $1.9 billion budget for 2027, Mirror Indy reported. The budget passed in sections to avoid councillors' conflicts of interest, with approvals coming mostly along party lines — generally Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no. WTHR and the Indianapolis Business Journal reported the final vote as 17-7, largely unchanged from the proposal Hogsett introduced in August.

Source: Mirror Indy

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will get $400 million in 2027, about a quarter of the entire spending plan and an 11.5% increase compared with the 2026 budget, Mirror Indy reported. Some of the money is intended to pay for 1,743 police officer positions — a number the department has never reached — which the city is required to fund under an agreement with the police union. Chief Tanya Terry said the money can pay for officers' overtime.

Source: Indianapolis Business Journal

The Department of Public Works will see the biggest increase of any department, with a total of $335.3 million in 2027, about a 30% increase from 2026, Mirror Indy reported. Its priorities include road projects and Vision Zero, the city's commitment to eliminating traffic deaths by 2035, including the Fatal Crash Review Team. Indy Parks is set to get about $54 million, a 7% increase, with $2.5 million toward pools and splash pads.

The budget includes $2.8 million to operate the city's low-barrier homeless shelter, which should open in 2027 near Georgia and Shelby streets and will also offer long-term help with housing and employment, Mirror Indy reported.

Several assistance programs were cut. The Office of Public Health and Safety eliminated FEEDINDY, a $100,000 transportation partnership with Lyft started in 2023 that paid up to $5 per ride to help people reach grocery stores; a smaller Grocery Access Program will still be funded with $48,000. The office also cut $260,000 from its release lobby program for people leaving jail outside business hours. The Eviction Diversion Initiative will get $750,000, half its 2026 level, with no funding for court navigators. Indy Achieves will get $1.5 million, down from $2.5 million, and a $1.5 million request to cover ankle-monitor and drug-testing fees did not make the final budget, Mirror Indy reported.

Sheriff's deputies removed a handful of people from the meeting who were protesting IMPD spending, Mirror Indy reported. Focal News reported Republican Councillor Michael Paul Hart criticised the Democratic majority for approving Hogsett's budget without changes, while Councillor Andy Nielsen said extensive discussions had taken place and the plan keeps basic services funded and supports infrastructure, housing and public safety.

Source: Focal News — Indianapolis