Louisville Metro Council approves $1.2 billion budget with heavy focus on public safety

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Louisville Metro Council passed a new city budget Thursday night, with more than $400 million dedicated to public safety, but it was not without criticism from some members and the community.

In a 21-4 vote, the council approved the $1.2 billion budget, but Councilmember Josie Raymond compared it to an underwhelming hamburger.

"We forgot to season this sucker," she said. "This budget doesn’t offer a vision — not even one I disagree with."

Raymond criticized what she called underfunding for libraries, TARC, and park maintenance.

The budget leans heavily into funding for public safety, with major allocations for the Louisville Metro Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Corrections.

About $246 million being allotted to LMPD, with hopes to launch the first "Drones as First Responders" program.

"This budget empowers all of the city's public safety agencies to respond more quickly and effectively when our residents need us most," LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey said in a statement.

As far as other funds, Republican Councilman Kevin Kramer, who serves on the budget committee, said some of it is going to parts of the city that haven’t seen investment in the past.

"In the last election, there were three new Republicans elected,” Kramer said. “If you’re going to look and say, ‘Well, there’s more money in this budget for Republican districts than previous years,’ well, yes — because those three districts now get counted as Republican districts."

Before the meeting, a small group of animal control officers and supporters gathered outside Metro Hall to push for increased salaries. While non-union Metro employees are receiving a 5% raise in this budget, unionized animal control workers said they've been left behind.

"Metro Animal Service employees haven’t received a raise since 2022," said animal control officer Seth Stivala. "Inflation and the cost of living have skyrocketed. These are hardworking people, and they can’t feed their families."

Despite disagreements, members from both political parties called the final budget a balanced compromise.

“There’s never enough money to do all the things we want to do,” one council member said. “But I think we’ve struck a good balance between priorities for our citizens — public safety, infrastructure, parks and libraries, economic development. Those are the things that matter most.”

The new budget goes into effect July 1.

Here is a breakdown of the where some of the city's money will be going:

In regards to public safety, the budget includes funds for more flock cameras, traffic feedback signs and sets money aside for a future First Responders Training Facility and continue funding of the new LMPD headquarters.
For infrastructure, the budget sets aside $30 million for road repair and repaving with additional funding to address road enhancements in high growth areas like Hurstbourne Parkway, Westport Road, Aiken Road and Cedar Creek Road.
About $1 million was allocated for 18 traffic calming, road enhancement projects throughout the city.
The budget invests more into the city's parks like Alberta Jones Park and GG Moore Park; replacement of lighting at some of the ballfields at AB Sawyer Park; a new gym at the Newburg Community Center; and a new gym and reconstructed pool at Sun Valley Community Center.
The budget calls for $24.5 million to address the housing needs of people in the community.

Previous Coverage:

Louisville city budget includes money for new firehouse, fire union says it's not enough

Louisville affordable housing fund cut in city budget nearing Metro Council vote

Louisville mayor says his $1 billion budget will invest more in public safety

ouisville police budget request increases by $25 million amid officer shortage

Greenberg unveils $1.2 billion Louisville budget proposal

Louisville investing $6 million in Fire Department repairs, equipment but more is needed