Metro Council Budget Committee Announces Hearing Schedule

Louisville Metro Council’s Budget Committee has released its schedule for reviewing Mayor Greg Fischer’s proposed 2019 -2020 Capital and Operating Budgets.

The Committee will review the proposal over the months of May and June. The Metro Council extended the budget review process by an extra month beginning in 2017, in order to hear from the public and thoroughly review and discuss the needs of each department and agency of Metro Government.

“Increased pension costs make this an extraordinarily difficult budget, with reductions and significant changes proposed throughout Metro Government. The Committee is looking forward to continuing to hear from the public and various departments and agencies before the Council adopts a final budget on June 25,” says Councilman Bill Hollander (D-9), Chair of the Committee.

“The need to find approximately $35 million in operational savings has helped encourage hundreds of people to offer ideas on how we can reduce spending and improve the delivery of services. These hearings will offer more opportunities for people to speak with their elected officials and offer their vision, ideas and suggestions for the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget” says Councilman Kevin Kramer (R-11), Budget Committee Vice Chair.

The Committee begins budget hearings on Monday, May 6th at 3:30 pm with a presentation on projected Revenue, Operations, Capital and Debt, followed by a presentation on Human Resources.

The Committee schedule includes three opportunities for the public to speak about the budget.  Public hearings are scheduled for May 7 at 6:15 pm; May 16 at 6:00 pm and May 20 at 6:00 p.m. 

The May 7 public hearing follows a discussion about funding for External Agencies. A sign-up sheet will be available on the third floor of City Hall beginning at 5:15 pm on May 7 and all applicants for External Agency funding who wish to speak about their applications or funding (it is not required) are strongly encouraged to speak on May 7.  

The May 16 public hearing will be open to all speakers on the budget.  On May 20, no External Agency applicants will be permitted to speak and the committee hopes to hear from the public about more general aspects of the budget. 

Sign-up sheets for the May 16 and May 20 meetings will be available one hour prior to the public hearings.

Here are highlights of the 2020 Budget Hearing Schedule:

• Metro Parks & Recreation – Wednesday, May 8 at 4:30 pm
• Louisville Forward, to include Economic Development, Develop Louisville, Codes & Regulations and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund – Monday, May 13 at 3:30 pm
• Louisville Fire – Tuesday, May 21 at 5:30 pm
• Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods – Wednesday, May 22 at 4:30 pm
• Louisville Free Public Library – Wednesday, May 29 at 3:30 pm
• Public Works and Assets – Wednesday, May 29 at 4:30 pm
• Emergency Services – Thursday, May 30 at 3:30 pm
• LMPD – Thursday, May 30 at 4:30 pm
• Public Health & Wellness – Monday, June 10 at 3:45 pm

For a complete schedule of meetings, current as of today, click here!

All Metro Council Committee meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 and UVERSE Channel 99. The meetings are also available online at the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk by clicking on the “Watch Meetings Online” button.