Councilors Pass Funding Measures For Facility Improvements

The Indianapolis City-County Council met Monday night and passed proposals related to the Circle City Forward initiative. Debate centered on the tax to pay for the $190 million in facility improvements.

Councilors discussed two measures related to the efforts. The first would create a new fund called the County Cumulative Capital Development Fund to pay for the projects.

Democratic Councilor Zach Adamson said it doesn’t constitute a new tax.

“This is a new use, for an old tax,” Adamson said.

Republican Councilor Paul Annee disagreed and said the initial property tax was established to pay for pensions.

“The residents were told that it would go up in 2005 and stay up until it sunset, in 2021, which is what it is doing,” Annee said.

Another proposal allocated $19 million to begin planning and development of projects. The package includes millions for parks, a forensics lab, coroner facilities and animal services. 

Comments from the public expressed concern over funding for a new Youth and Family Services Center, to replace the Juvenile Detention Center. Chris Yurneck concerns were read by the clerk.

“The last thing Indianapolis needs is a brand new child prison,” he said.

A judge spoke in support of the proposed project, saying it aims to reduce the number of beds for youth and divert them from jail, through more holistic family services.

Specific projects will be discussed by the council over the coming months.

The council also passed a new ordinance that will temporarily limit third party fees for restaurants that use their delivery services.