The 2025 Fort Wayne Civil City Budget was released this morning in a news conference led by City Controller Garry Morr.
For the latest posts on the 2025 Fort Wayne Civil City Budget released. News release from the City of Fort Wayne Indiana:
Fort Wayne in strong fiscal position as Mayor Tucker unveils balanced budget plan for 2025
Proposed budget features major investments in neighborhoods, parks, and public safetyFort Wayne, Indiana (September 19, 2024) – Fort Wayne continues to be a leader with strong fiscal health as Mayor Sharon Tucker and City Controller Garry Morr today announced the proposed 2025 budget for the City of Fort Wayne.
Plans call for investments in neighborhood infrastructure improvements that total $47.7 million when you combine the efforts of the Public Works Division, Parks & Recreation Department, and Community Development Division. In addition, ongoing investments in public safety will help ensure that Fort Wayne is the safest community possible.
2025 budget highlights:
- Balanced budget with a 5% reduction in the City’s tax rate
- Continuation of commitment to neighborhood infrastructure projects with a planned investment of $44.7 million led by the Public Works Division, which includes $34.9 million for streets, roads and bridges, $7.5 million for sidewalks and alleys, and $2.3 million for trails. Areas that will see improvements include Paulding Road, Leesburg Road, Hillegas Road, Coldwater Road, Stellhorn Road, and Winchester Road, as well as the neighborhoods of Oakhurst, Kirkwood Park, Centennial Park, Waynedale, Fairfield Terrace/Belmont, and Westchester to name a few.
- Continuation of infrastructure projects based upon neighborhood plans including the Southeast Strategy, Packard, Northeast, Near Northwest, and East Central plans, and construction funding for Oxford streetscape improvements.
- Investments in maintenance projects through the Parks & Recreation Department will total $3 million. There will also be improvements to Brewer Park, Packard Park’s master plan work will finish in 2025, and Foster Park’s entrance design will be completed, and construction will start. There are also plans for Headwaters Park, including a new fountain with a splash pad feature. In addition, construction on Riverfront Phase IIb Public Open Space will be underway in 2025.
- The Fort Wayne Police Department will have its 69th recruit class that will keep the budgeted number of officers patrolling City streets to protect the public at 500, plus the addition of 10 additional officers requested through a COPS grant for a total of 510 officers. The FWPD will be expanding the investigative operations center technology as part of the real time crime center for solving violent crimes. The FWPD will also expand the downtown bicycle, forensics, and drone units.
- The Fort Wayne Fire Department plans to add three new engines. The 97th recruit class is planned and will bring the number of firefighters to 375. There are upgrades planned for Safety Village as well as the design of a new Fire Station 5 in Waynedale.
- The City will utilize the State of Indiana’s allowable tax levy to assist in preserving funding to provide essential services
- The property tax supported budget including LIT – public safety, also known as the Civil City budget, totals $246.2 million. This budget does not include Fort Wayne City Utilities, which has its own budget funded by ratepayers.
- Fort Wayne is a city that continues to grow and succeed with fiscal discipline as a top priority. With this being my first budget as mayor, I’m impressed with the attention to detail that’s been demonstrated by the division and department heads. We share a common commitment to protecting taxpayers and meeting the needs of a community that expects and deserves excellent services,” said Mayor Tucker. “I’m looking forward to positive and productive dialogue with City Council as we work together to pass a budget that’s forward thinking and positions Fort Wayne for current and future success.”
Examples of positive indicators moving forward:
- Local assessed valuations on properties continue to rise – 12 consecutive years
- Steady revenue growth has allowed the City to maintain a very strong fund balance over the past several years
- Through strong fiscal management in partnership with City Council, the City has sufficient cash reserves to be able to respond to emergencies in uncertain times
Mayor Tucker’s Administration will present the budget at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The budget is available here.
Fort Wayne continues to be a consistent award-winning community in multiple categories through a commitment to providing an enhanced quality of life for all. Fiscal responsibility is a best practices measurement that has helped Fort Wayne achieve national recognition.
Highlights of 2024 awards for the City of Fort Wayne:
- Fastest growing city in the Midwest through the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data
- The most affordable city in the country to live in by U.S. News & World Report
- The number one housing market in the country by The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com
- 8th best run city in the country by WalletHub
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