After weeks of budget hearings, Metro Council voted 22-1 to approve the FY 2024-2025 Metro Government Operating Budget and unanimously approved the Capital Budget. These budgets were largely reflective of the budget proposed by Mayor Craig Greenberg in his budget address on April 25, 2024. The Metro Council also received over 1,000 budget comments from Louisville residents. Metro Council focused much of their efforts on investments in public safety, infrastructure improvements, and the ongoing housing crisis. Here are some highlights from the final FY 24-25 budgets: 

Public Safety: 

• $375,000 towards costs associated with the Department of Justice consent decree. 
• $4 million for a new LMPD helicopter.  
• $5 million to fund opioid-related initiatives.  
• $800,000 in general repairs for the Louisville Fire Department. 
• $2 million in general repairs for Corrections. 

Infrastructure:  

• $30 million for street paving. 
• $1 million for alley paving. 
• $2 million for sidewalk repairs. 
• $4.4 million for new vehicles and equipment for Public Works & Assets. 
• Additional funding across departments for street and road safety projects, including money for structural repair, guardrail replacement, traffic control, signage, and pavement markings. 

Affordable Housing:  

• $25 million for affordable housing initiatives, including $15 million to the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $4.9 million for low-income permanent housing.  
• $834,300 for the Volunteers of America Unity House. Metro Council also requested the Administration study and review the use of taxpayer dollars in addressing homelessness within our community. The study’s objective is to understand how these funds are being utilized and assess the overall effectiveness of various entities currently serving our homeless populations. 

Other Notable Investments: 

• Funding for libraries across the city 
• Establishment and funding for Thrive by Five, the Mayor’s Universal Pre-K initiative 
• Funding for a number of parks infrastructural improvements 
• Establishment of a new Louisville Economic Development Authority  
• $10 million for the Belvedere revitalization project. 

To view the full budget documents, see here.