Fort Wayne City Council approved proposals from Mayor Tom Henry to invest $3 million of state income tax funding to city neighborhoods Tuesday night.
The “Investing in Neighborhoods Now” plan was announced in early July. Neighborhood partnerships received the biggest boost under the plan: $1 million will be set aside to empower residents to make improvements on their property, with each of the city’s four area quadrants receiving an even $250,000.
This was originally a point of contention among Council during its introduction to the body in August; some wanted the package be held until Henry’s budget plan was released. Upon re-introduction, the proposal promises $500,000 to each quadrant, boosting the overall neighborhood investment to $2 million which Council approved unanimously.
Council did however reject a proposal for an additional $250,000 to the Homeowner Repair Program.
Fort Wayne community development director Cindy Joyner says the administration wanted to protect homeowners who care about their property, but may not have the money to fix a broken roof.
“That goes, then the foundation goes, code steps in because of mold and other issues that’s caused from the roof, and we end up condemning it and displacing people and then we end up tearing it down,” Joyner said.
Joyner noted the expenses that come with displacing residents and demolishing homes, which wasn't enough to sway the body.
The remainder of the funding package also pledges a combined $500,000 to the Fort Wayne Police Department and Lutheran Foundation to combat the opioid epidemic. $500,000 will be committed to Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana for “vocational assessment and skills training, workforce development, and accessibility,” and $610,000 will go to the city’s cash reserves.
Those funds passed 8-1; 4th District councilman Jason Arp was the lone dissenter.
On the budget front, Council’s cuts are due for submission to each department by Thursday afternoon. Those departments will have a chance to protest any proposed cuts by Council during the regular meeting next Tuesday at 5:30.
