Indianapolis City-County Council Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Indianapolis City-County Council met on October 5, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. to conduct routine business, introduce new proposals, hold a public hearing on the proposed 2027 budgets for the city and county and five municipal corporations, and take final adoption votes on bond issuances for Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) and the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. The meeting included public testimony on the budgets, with several speakers focusing on police funding and automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras.

Consent Calendar

• Proposal No. 277, 2026 – Appointed Janai Downs to the Equal Opportunity Advisory Board. Passed 25-0.
• Proposal No. 278, 2026 – Appointed Cindy Kirchhofer to the Metropolitan Development Commission. Passed 25-0.
• Proposal Nos. 316–321, 2026 – Six rezoning ordinances certified for approval by the Metropolitan Development Commission on September 24, 2026, passed into law without being called down for public hearing.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Combined Budgets (Proposals 261–264 – City/County and Special Service Districts for 2027):

• A speaker (unidentified) criticized a $240 million tax abatement given to a data center in Decatur County, arguing the funds could have addressed teenage violence and homelessness.
• Eddie Hayes (2839 South Pasadena Street) objected to lumping six budget proposals together for public comment, stating the two-minute limit per person violates open-door principles and fairness. He also raised concerns about parking tickets and costs associated with attending hearings.
• Jeff Stant requested that $400,000 be set aside in the budget for the Office of Land Stewardship to prepare an updated lands conservation plan by the end of fiscal year 2028, citing the need for transparent forest preservation efforts.
• Stuart Witt (Far East Side) urged the council to better understand IMPD’s auditing process for technology, prioritize recruiting and training over new technology, and demonstrate protections for Fourth Amendment rights regarding ALPR cameras. He questioned the chief's claim of "100% compliance."
• Larry Vaughan characterized tax collection as "at gunpoint" and criticized the city’s economic model based on entertainment and sports subsidies, calling it a "failed model."
• Ray Steinhart spoke against ALPR cameras, citing Fourth Amendment concerns, lack of oversight, outdated firmware, and the risk of hacking. He advocated using funds instead for hiring within Marion County, the library (which has a $4 return on every $1 invested), and forest preserves for youth.
• William Bowler opposed an 11% raise for IMPD, calling it excessive. He criticized flock cameras as invasive and argued that IPS public schools outperform charter schools, urging more education funding.
• Karen Donovan (Fountain Square) opposed funding flock cameras without clear policies, calling it "creepy" and preferring funds for schools or infrastructure.
• Sarah Claus (Alice) (Hamilton County) condemned the abuse of the flock system by six named IMPD officers, stating it makes Indianapolis a "laughing stock" and expressed fear for the future of freedom.

On Indianapolis Airport Authority Budget (Proposal 282):

• Elizabeth Marvin (Broad Ripple) requested the council condition the airport's budget on commitments to transparency regarding ICE deportation flights, including live-stream cameras, monthly public reporting, and ensuring no local funds subsidize immigration enforcement beyond federal requirements. She noted an average of three ICE flights per week since summer 2025, with the 140th flight occurring that morning.
• Abby Morgan (Riley Kessler) also requested cameras at the private terminal to help lawyers locate detainees, estimating the cost at $1,200. She drew parallels to Japanese American internment and urged the council to stand up for those being disappeared.

On Health and Hospital Corporation Budget (Proposal 284):

• Eddie Hager (2839 South Pasadena Street) recounted an incident where HHC sent a crew to mow his neighbor’s yard without proper oversight, charging the disabled veteran $2,800 on a fixed income of $611 per month. He argued HHC lacks accountability and called for budget oversight.

On IndyGo Budget (Proposal 285):

• Michael Zarek (District 2) noted that October 1–8 is "Week Without Driving" and asked how many councilors have ridden the bus recently. He emphasized that one-third of Americans are non-drivers and urged more support for transit.

On Library Budget (Proposal 286):

• Ray Steinhart praised the Library of Things and seed library initiatives, stating they provide a 4-to-1 return on investment. He urged continued funding to expand these programs and noted that seeds run out quickly at some branches.

Discussion Items

• Proposal No. 305, 2026 (Special Ordinance) – Introduced to modify the local income tax rate and allocation. Referred to Administration and Finance Committee.
• Proposal No. 306, 2026 (General Resolution) – Expresses council interest in purchasing land at 5490 West Pike Plaza Road for a new firehouse to replace IFD Station #33. Referred to Administration and Finance Committee.
• Proposal Nos. 307–315, 2026 (General Ordinances) – Authorize speed limit reductions to 25 mph in various subdivisions and districts, and speed humps in one area. All referred to Public Works Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Proposal No. 279, 2026 – Authorized HHC to issue up to $25,000,000 in general obligation bonds for 2026/2027 capital improvements. Passed 24-0 with one abstention (Councilor Barth recused due to family members employed by Eskenazi Hospital, an HHC facility).
• Proposal No. 280, 2026 – Approved the issuance of Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library general obligation bonds not exceeding $19,000,000 for the Irvington Branch Renovation and Multi-Facility Long-Term Capital Improvement and Equipping Project. Passed 25-0.
• Proposal No. 281, 2026 – Approved the appropriation of proceeds from the library bonds for the same project. Passed 25-0.
• Final adoption of the 2027 budgets (Proposals 261–264 and 282–286) is scheduled for October 19, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned with a memorial motion recognizing Don Roth, Wanda Mae Miles, Joe Doll, Thomas "Tommy" Miller, Ada Katherine Anderson, Dwayne Dobb, Kai'zon "Kai" Booker, and Patricia Matly.