Mayor Stephanie Terry’s proposed budget is $514 million. This is about $20 million more than former Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s 2024 proposed budget. Her theme for 2025 is “An Investment in People and Place.’”
That budget increase includes a 3-percent raise for all non-union employees and seven percent for police officers.
“This is how we are prioritizing people,” Terry said. “So how are we prioritizing the ‘place?’ First, by emphasizing our commitment to neighborhood revitalization that starts by increasing our investment in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to $1 million.”
The $514 million is a combination of all city departments including her office, and the water and sewer utility. These departments will present their individual budgets as well.
Her overview also included challenges.
“Our city is dealing with old infrastructure, widespread blight, limited funds, low borrowing capacity and low wages for our employees,” she said. “These are tough challenges, but we're ready to tackle them. There's still more work ahead …”
Her presentation included positive items like the impactful 812 Day neighborhood cleanup activities, adding a full-time counselor for city employees and the improved water bill relief program.
Terry said the city has $54 million in cash investments and $463.8 million for “all funds” as of June.
The City council will review all departmental budgets and ask them for additions or deletions to approve the total budget in November.
