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Four insights from Mayor Stephanie Terry’s first budget proposal

Four insights from Mayor Stephanie Terry’s first budget proposal

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EVANSVILLE – Mayor Stephanie Terry unveiled her first city budget Tuesday afternoon, giving the public a first glimpse of her priorities for 2025.

She presented the overview to the Evansville City Council before it heard from each department head. All council members were present except Courtney Johnson, D-At-Large.

The Courier & Press met with Terry before budget hearings began and discussed these priorities and the process for crafting the 2025 budget.

Terry said the focus areas were understood during individual meetings with each department.

“I think ultimately everyone understood the priorities,” Terry said. “It was the people and the place.”

Flat-rate salary increases for municipal employees

For municipal employees who are not bound by a collective agreement, there is a general salary increase of 3% for 2025.

Terry said city employees have not received a significant raise since 2013. In recent years, employees have consistently received a 1% raise.

“This has been neglected for far too long,” she told the council on Tuesday.

There will also be an increase in public safety personnel as well as Evansville police and fire departments.

Contract negotiations are ongoing, but Terry said the current recommendation is a 7% raise.

“This is our way of prioritizing people,” she said.

Improvements in the neighborhood park

Improvements to neighborhood parks had been a point of contention in the city council in recent years, with disagreement over the extent to which they would really make an impact.

This year, Terry proposed $200,000 for this position, double the amount proposed for 2024.

Danielle Crook, parks director, said the department could do a lot with the money.

“A little bit is enough,” she said.

Additionally, $10,000 is earmarked for improving restrooms in the parks and $15,000 for mulch in the parks.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Landbank increases

The budget also reflects the Terry administration’s continued focus on funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The fund is earmarked for $1 million in 2025. Terry said this is a step toward the city’s goal of providing residents with access to safe, affordable housing.

“This is a need in our community,” she said. “That’s why we will focus on financing solutions.”

In addition, the Land Banking Acquisition Fund funding will be increased to $500,000 for 2025.

Significant increase in the budget for road construction works

Terry said the proposed budget also includes more than $2.5 million for road paving, reconstruction and maintenance.

The mayor’s office gets a lot of calls about roads, and two questions are at the heart of them: why the roads are bad and why so much construction is happening, Terry says.

In any case, it shows that residents care about the streets, she said.

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