Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith announces the next District 4 Get Connected Cake Walk she and LMPD officers will participate in is set for this coming Friday, February 15th.

          “I want residents to get connected and strike up a conversation with the officers who patrol their streets,” says the Councilwoman. “My goal is  to go door to door in different neighborhoods, meet folks and hear what’s on their mind.” 

          February’s Cake Walk starts at 4:00pm at the corner of 22nd and Date Streets. The Councilwoman will be joined by Major Ryan Bates, Commander of the LMPD 2nd Division and his officers.

          The Councilwoman introduced Cake Walks last month on Magazine Street to celebrate the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s 90th birthday by bringing cupcakes to citizens on the streets she and LMPD visited. She plans to do it every month as a way to make streets safer and give the community a chance to help LMPD with crime prevention.

          “It’s a simple idea and the key is to connect with folks, finding out what they need from our fine men and women of the LMPD and at the same time neighbors will get to know just a few of the people who keep us safe,” says Sexton Smith.

          For more information, contact Councilwoman Sexton Smith’s office at 502-574-1104.

Facing devastating potential cuts because of an expected $65 million general fund gap over the next four years, Mayor Greg Fischer is proposing to increase the city’s tax rates on home, life, marine and miscellaneous insurance, such as malpractice, title insurance and umbrella coverage, from their current five percent to 12.5 percent in FY20 and FY21, 13.5 percent in FY22 and 15 percent in FY23.

Auto would be excluded from this increase, which overall would generate approximately $63 million by FY23.

“Louisville Metro Government has proven it is an efficient operation, and our city is seeing a good growth in revenue. But that growth is dwarfed by our increased pension requirements from the state,” said Mayor Fischer, noting that the impact of unfunded pension obligations is expected to grow 12 percent each year through FY23.

That amounts to $86 million in FY19, up from $77 million in FY18, and is expected to grow to $97 million in FY20, then to $136 million in FY23. The estimated gap for FY20 is $35 million, which reflects the additional $10 million pension bill for FY19, another $10 million for FY20, along with $15 million from increased healthcare costs and lower-than-projected revenues.

The Mayor last week detailed the specific potential cuts that would, barring new revenue, have to be made to cover the operating gap and ensure a balanced budget, as required by state law. The potential cuts range from staffing reductions in nearly every Louisville Metro Government (LMG) department, including police, fire and ambulance services, as well as closing library branches, fire stations, health clinics, community centers, pools and city golf courses.

Other potential cuts faced by the city without new revenue include eliminating all Metro funding for agencies like Brightside and the Belle of Louisville, making the Louisville Zoo independently operated, turning Youth Detention Services back over to the state, and eliminating all Neighborhood Development Funds allocated by Metro Council and External Agency Funds allocated to local nonprofits for arts, and social and community services.

The potential cuts amount to 317 layoffs in FY20 alone.

“These cuts will damage our city’s momentum,” the Mayor said during a news conference today, “which is why the Council and I worked together to propose this new source of revenue. This is not an easy choice, but under the circumstances, it’s a pretty clear one. Keep the momentum of our city moving forward – or fall back?”

To illustrate the impact, the Mayor’s proposal would increase the average family’s home insurance by about $12 – $13 a month, or around 40 cents per day.

“It’s important to keep in mind that this pension situation is not something that Metro Council or I created,” the Mayor said. “I appreciate the state’s attempts now to position our pension systems to be structurally sound. But those discussions and actions fall short of addressing the revenue needs of local governments. And Frankfort has refused to allow us the tools and flexibility we need to deal with the obligations they’re imposing.

“We are required by law to pay whatever dollar amount the retirement board sets as our pension obligation, and we’re required to balance our city budget every year,” he said. “We believe this recommendation today is the best way to ensure our city continues to thrive and grow.”

Mayor Fischer developed this proposal in consultation with members of the Metro Council, and he was joined at today’s news conference by President David James, Councilman Bill Hollander, who is chair of the council budget committee, and Council members Pat Mulvihill, Barbara Sexton Smith and Marcus Winkler, who are co-sponsoring the ordinance.

“While I have no desire to raise taxes, I also have no desire to let our great city be pushed backwards and see essential city services eroded and our citizens’ safety be put at risk,” said James. “That’s why I’m a sponsor of this ordinance to raise revenue, and I look forward to working together to find efficiencies in our government to balance our budget.”

Hollander said: “This increased pension cost is far too much to deal with solely by expense reductions. The level of service cuts we would need to implement would ripple throughout the community and seriously set us back for many years, as the downward spiral builds on itself. That is not good policy and not acceptable for the people we serve.”

Winkler agreed: “The budgetary challenges our city faces are significant, and there is no easy fix. The only way that we can meet our pension obligations without draconian cuts to services and reduction or elimination of economy-building programs is through this revenue measure. Though not an easy decision, it is necessary if we want to live in a strong, vibrant Louisville, the kind of place where skilled labor and employers want to move. We cannot achieve that by cuts alone. Investments in services like worker retraining, policing, infrastructure and parks are key to winning the competition with cities like Nashville, Columbus, and Indianapolis.”

Mulvihill said: “It’s unfortunate that we are in this place needing to raise revenue due to the lack of funding of pensions for the last 20 years by Frankfort, but we can’t risk losing 250 police officers and having fire stations shuttered and leaving our most vulnerable residents without the necessary social services to immediately help them and get on a path to improve their lives. We need to ensure that all our children have the opportunity for bright futures, and that is not possible if we close libraries, parks and community centers. Lastly, we need to protect our seniors, and closing senior centers and failing to provide programming for them is simply untenable.”

Sexton Smith said: “Raising taxes to generate revenue for our community is always controversial, and it requires political will and courage to do so. Public safety is our top priority, and financial management is our first responsibility. These are difficult times and I am committed to creating safer neighborhoods, more and better jobs in the neighborhoods, and better services for everyone. Together, we can do this!”

To be effective for FY20, the Council must approve the change and the city must file its intent to raise the tax by March 22.

Mayor Fischer asked residents to carefully review the list of specific cuts the city is facing without new revenue, “and if you, like me, find them unacceptable, please reach out to your Metro Council person and urge them to support this revenue.”

Time to Kick the Tires and Light the Fires for the 2019 Championship Tractor Pull

Held each year in conjunction with the National Farm Machinery Show, the Championship Tractor Pull draws more than 75,000 fans to Freedom Hall as larger-than-life machines compete for bragging rights and a share of a sizable prize purse.

Organized in 1969, when 66 tractors competed across three classes, the pull has now grown into a premiere event that boasts dozens of drivers and machines in nearly a dozen classes including 2WD and 4×4 trucks, both gas and diesel powered, and tractors ranging from 7,500lb modified tractors to Super Stock Alcohol Tractors to the gargantuan 10,200lb Pro Stock Tractors.

Competitors vie to reach the furthest distance while dragging a weighted sled down the dirt track created in the former Louisville Cardinal’s home in Freedom Hall.

If seeing, hearing, and feeling the roar of the enormous machines from your seat is not enough, visitors are also encouraged to visit The Pit in Broadbent arena from 9am to 5pm Wednesday through Friday and from 9am to 11am on Saturday. In The Pit, visitors can check out the trucks and tractors up close and talk to the drivers and crew who make it all happen. Admission to The Pit is free.

While the exhibits, seminars, and marketplace of the National Farm Machinery Show and access to The Pit are all free, the Championship Tractor Pull is a ticketed event and parking for both events is subject to KEC parking fees of $10. Tickets are available online or at the gate and range from $10 to $45 for single-show tickets. Passes to all four performances range from $70 to $200, depending on seating level. For attendees who want to have a premium experience during the pulls, the venue offers The Club tickets, which include livestream of the event, food, private restrooms, and cash bar service.

An online PPV livestream of the event is also available world wide at FarmShowPull.com starting at $40.

Event Accompanied by Championship Tractor Pull

The agricultural industry around the world, as most things have, has continued to evolve to incorporate the latest science and technology. The equipment and farming products on display this week in the Kentucky Exposition Center might be nearly unrecognizable to farmers from just a generation or two ago.

Whether you are in the agricultural business yourself, interested in seeing how the food that you consume is produced, or simply want to marvel at the engineering and technology on display, the National Farm Machinery Show has something for everyone.

The annual four-day event, which is free to attend, boasts more than 1.3 million square feet of indoor exhibit space occupied by nearly 900 agricultural displays. These exhibits showcase the latest products and services offered by everyone from large, well-established companies to smaller outfits who have created practical implements borne out of necessity based on hand-on experience in the field.

Education also plays a large part of the NFMS, including daily seminars to help agribiz workers identify industry trends, increase crop yields, and make use of the latest technology that is available.

In addition to the exhibits focused on the hardware that farmers need to ply their trade, the show also offers a large Gift & Craft Market. This marketplace, located in the South Wing Mezzanine, features more than 80 booths offering a wide array of gifts, souvenirs, toys, collectibles, and more.

While admission to the NFMS is free, parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center will cost $10 for cars and $20 for buses. The NFMS is open 9am to 6pm daily.

Held in conjunction with the National Farm Machinery Show, each night Freedom Hall will roar to life with the sounds of high-horsepower diesel tractors, alcohol tractors, and heavy duty 2- and 4-wheel drive modified trucks in the Championship Tractor Pull.

Although the Tractor Pulls are ticketed events, visitors are welcome to stop by The Pit in Broadbent Arena from 9am to 5pm through Friday and 9am to 11am on Saturday. There, they can check out the awesome pulling machines, meet with drivers, and get autographs.

Mayor Greg Fischer has indicated that Louisville Metro faces a serious budget situation with an anticipated deficit of $65 million over the next four years. 

The potential for serious cuts could include staffing reductions in nearly every city department, as well as the closing of two of the city’s 21 fire stations, four of the five public pools, four of the 10 public golf courses and one of the city’s 18 public library branches.

Councilwoman Paula McCraney (D-7) serves on the Budget Committee and is inviting constituents to join her for a Budget Talk on Saturday, February 23 from 10 a.m. until noon. 

“This will be an opportunity for citizens from District 7 to ask questions and make suggestions as we all work to find solutions to the city’s impending budget deficit,” said Councilwoman McCraney.  “I’m truly looking forward to hearing from District 7 constituents on this important budget issue.” 

The Budget Talk will be held at the St. Matthews Community Center, 310 Ten Pin Lane.  Louisville Metro Chief Financial Officer Daniel Frockt will also be on hand to answer questions and receive input regarding the city’s budget.

After months of working together to collect and review more than 400 ideas, residents of Metro Council Districts 6 and 8 will vote on how to spend $200,000.00 in public funds beginning February 15. The Our Money Our Voice participatory budgeting initiative allots $100,000 per district for projects residents identify as improving health, safety and well-being. Residents age 14 and over will have an opportunity to vote at District Voter Expos or online. Each person can vote for up to five projects.

Our Money, Our Voice is being piloted using $100,000 in capital infrastructure funds set aside by Council President David James (District 6) and Councilman Brandon Coan (District 8), $50,000 in funds from Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, and $50,000 from the Humana Foundation.

“Our Money, Our Voice empowers neighborhood residents to make decisions about how money is spent in their neighborhoods,” said District 6 Councilman and Council President, David James. “I applaud the many volunteers who knocked on doors to talk with their neighbors to solicit ideas and then vet them for feasibility. It’s exciting that we’re now at the voting phase of the project.”

“The project strengthens democracy by getting people involved in the work of government and in the decisions that effect their lives,” said District 8 Councilman Brandon Coan.“I encourage all residents of Districts 6 and 8 to make sure to vote – either in person or online.”

Projects residents can vote on include alleyway and sidewalk improvements, implementing community center programs, adding street lights, litter bins or drinking fountains, and enhancing playgrounds. Residents can vote in person at “District Voter Expos.” At these expos, residents can meet their neighbors and volunteers who made this opportunity possible and learn more about how the final projects were selected. (See below for more information on District Voter Expos.)

On-line voting will also be available.  Residents who wish to make digital absentee votes should sign up with Mobileserve to request a voter access code for an on-line ballot. A link to request a voter access code as well as a sample ballot can be obtained at www.OurMoneyOurVoice.com.

“Participatory budgeting is a way for residents of a community to work together to better meet their needs while having a direct say in government decisions,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and Chief Health Strategist for the city. “Engaging the community is essential for public health and critical for helping us get to our vision of a healthy Louisville where everyone and every community thrives.”

Participatory budgeting has been practiced in the United States since 2009 in such cities as Hartford, CT; Greensboro, NC; New York and Chicago.