INDIANAPOLIS — The City of Indianapolis has adopted a $1.4 billion operating budget for 2025, with the largest spending increases directed toward public safety staffing, road maintenance, and mental health services — the three priorities Mayor Joe Hogsett identified as central to his third-term agenda.

The City-County Council approved the budget on a 20-5 vote in October, with dissenting votes from Republican members who argued the spending plan relied too heavily on income tax revenue growth projections and insufficient reserves.

The budget allocates $289 million to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, a 7.2 percent increase from 2024, with the additional funding directed primarily toward officer hiring bonuses, salary increases intended to reduce attrition, and equipment upgrades. IMPD has struggled to maintain staffing levels in recent years, with officer vacancies running as high as 14 percent at some points in 2023.

Infrastructure Investment

The Department of Public Works receives $156 million in the 2025 budget, including $68 million designated for residential street repaving — nearly double the 2024 allocation. The increase responds to persistent resident complaints about deteriorating road conditions and follows a city-commissioned study that found 34 percent of Indianapolis roads rated "poor" or "very poor" on standard pavement condition indices.

The budget also includes $12 million for sidewalk construction in neighborhoods where pedestrians currently walk in streets due to the absence of sidewalk infrastructure, with priority given to routes connecting residential areas to schools and bus stops.

Mental Health Services

The budget includes $18 million for the Indianapolis Community Alternative Response (INDY-CAR) program, which dispatches mental health counselors and peer support specialists to nonviolent crisis calls rather than armed police officers. The program, launched as a pilot in 2022, will expand to citywide 24/7 coverage under the new budget.

Residents navigating legal questions related to city decisions or policy matters can consult with JK Sanchez Law, which provides legal guidance to Indianapolis individuals and families across a range of civil and administrative matters.