Metro Council gives Mayor Fischer power to renegotiate new Yum! Center debt plan

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Council is giving Mayor Greg Fischer the power to renegotiate a new plan to pay the KFC Yum! Center's construction debt.

Metro Council passed the resolution Thursday night.

Council members say the city has been forced to pay far more than some thought it would, while the University of Louisville has paid far less than it should to use the arena.

The arena authority faces big increases in annual bond payments, and the board doesn't expect to have enough money to cover those payments in just a few years.

The new agreement would give the city flexibility in the amount it commits. U of L Athletic Director Tom Jurich sounded off last week, saying he felt the university was made to look like the bad guy as the new agreement was debated.

Metro Council also approved a plan to spend $6.2 million to battle gun violence.

"With this vote, we will be giving Chief Conrad, Mayor Fischer everything they've asked for and more," District 7 councilwoman Angela Leet said. "Now it is up to the administration to get the results, results that have been absent for the last two years."

The money is a surplus left over from last year's budget. It will pay for 28 additional police officers, overtime for more patrols and various violence prevention programs.

SUNDAY EDITION | City, state seek to avert KFC Yum! Center debt crunch

Arena resolution gives city flexibility in KFC Yum! Center deal