[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6499614,"mediaKeyId","5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884","parentId",5778768,"title","Committee reappoints Richard Wilson Jr. to Indianapolis Public Transportation board","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",50000,"endMs",603000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884&start=50&end=603","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884/thumbnail_50000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6499614/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Committee-reappoints-Richard-Wilson-Jr-to-Indianapolis-Public-Transportation-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499614-feaa6e429d6c214e9af3539525d8ebbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770701927&Signature=ZQcPu~n35UiYvZjC~BTp-Xo9mltjA20NhaESPtmRClr~WXtdGklmCcpVSXXSLSdPiceFH6ghvN8g16KcDPqUFY3eVRvFOVf-LRDTZYV99-a9bSvKQ4-Qlb4qS2sxuI-7tS20UlvGJ8EoUhzNbzqAD1IHG5jVQcwN25aaSEEpxJInkXufgzUBA~a3YV1wDWk4NG8jkTQO94ppYNlhZdfItOQD0C6q2n3yyZlVaA33wRl~pampN1N2C-gHVTcEk5Y32mxrZQpQxZE6EKRZnyOdH24qwi2vl63janJetBNkajGU-BEOQwMHRuMVgnJxVcLPZVvPc3SOL4HopGmLl5n5Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Municipal Corporations Committee on Sept. 17 advanced proposal 279 to reappoint Mr. Richard Wilson Jr. to the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation Board of Directors. Chairman Jared Evans introduced the item and invited Wilson to address the committee before the appointment.

Wilson, who was nominated for a second four‑year term, highlighted a fiscal‑sustainability study and the agency’s use of 0‑based budgeting. He credited work by the agency’s finance team for slowing the rate of budget growth and described priorities that include leveraging non‑fare revenue and increasing ridership through projects such as the Blue Line. “I grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. I rode public transportation all the time. I don't think you can be a world‑class city without a robust transit system,” Wilson said.

Council members asked about Wilson’s transit experience and board composition; Wilson said appointees and mayoral picks have strengthened board engagement. No public comments were offered on proposal 279 at the hearing. Councilor Jesse Brown moved the item; the committee took no roll‑call vote on the record in the transcript and the formal tally was not stated.

Ending
Wilson thanked members for the opportunity and said he looks forward to another four years on the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Municipal Corporations Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The Municipal Corporations Committee advanced proposal 279 to reappoint Richard Wilson Jr. to the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation Board of Directors; the committee received his remarks on fiscal sustainability and transit priorities before the appointment.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499618,"Indianapolis Public Library presents 2026 budget with fund‑balance drawdown and requests clarification",0,5961000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884&start=5961&end=5961","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884/thumbnail_5961000.jpg","/articles/6499618/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Indianapolis-Public-Library-presents-2026-budget-with-fundbalance-drawdown-and-requests-clarification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499618-d7d360b1bc4121ebd22d88747999bfa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770701927&Signature=otoYlIQW2xm7GfMhk8J2q59HCRcD9p1fVpBIIjgRneCh0ea4a0nOh3Sf5VAOUHKyVOHbs6cXf6fNU51QaanOLxP0bom7MDaRuVmigD99Qt4RIwAxYc8hIoix53dNZpKxVTonoin43EF0N9rEfEA-WoWpXmqjatZpgMqUd75B3bCz5YCridtWizFGNl2I7er03LJGYPE4CQH6fX6wNBVx52sTsYHxF~DmDZLQyqJ7~PySqysfVWfUxRyy83qjYJB8XWPCVgUVvEj4jXB4f4bhmFQvTsqsTUqhFdU~2LP2aSSwRozMxOPUSlN5Jc7JYo80sZ7XOL4KMbeFRerepMZ2~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gregory Hill, CEO of the Indianapolis Public Library, and Chief Financial Officer Lalita Campbell presented the library’s proposed 2026 operating budget to the Municipal Corporations Committee on Sept. 17, outlining capital priorities, branch performance and a projected operating deficit that would be met with the library’s fund balance.

The library proposed a 2026 budget of $89,394,474 — a roughly 4.64% increase overall from the current fiscal year — with operating expenses concentrated in personnel. Campbell said personnel costs account for about 65% of expenses and the library adopted the Good Wages Initiative earlier this year. The proposed operating budget shows a gap between revenues (about $55.6M) and expenditures (about $67.2M) that the library plans to cover from reserves.

Why it matters: The library operates 26 branches and an expanding SHARE system that now serves 86 schools; decisions about fund balance and payroll affect services, security and facility upkeep at branches across the city.

Highlights and concerns
- New and renovated branches: Glendale re‑opened in March 2024 and recorded a roughly 54% increase in visits in its first year compared with the previous location; Pike and Nora branches reopened recently and show positive usage trends.
- SHARE system: The library has added schools to its SHARE program and now serves 86 schools, but officials said limited sorting capacity, drivers and a need to renovate the library services center prevent adding more schools until infrastructure is expanded.
- Security and housekeeping costs: Several branches have part‑time library security assistants (LSAs); the central library currently has full coverage (55 hours) with about 13 LSAs and one police officer on site. Campbell said security and housekeeping costs have risen significantly.

Budget math and next steps
Councilors pressed library officials on a presentation slide that showed the ending fund balance across years; some council members said the arithmetic on the long‑term plan slide did not clearly reflect the proposed drawdown. CEO Hill offered to circulate a corrected slide the next morning. The budget and union negotiations are ongoing; the library said any negotiated salary changes would be finalized before the city’s budget deadline (Oct. 6).

Discussion vs. decisions
The committee received the library’s presentation and asked procedural and financial questions; no final council vote on the library budget was taken at the Sept. 17 hearing. CFO Campbell said the library expects to use fund balance in 2026 if projections hold but emphasized past practice of negotiating contracts and managing expenses to avoid service cuts.

Ending
Library officials said they would provide corrected slides and additional detail for a follow‑up review; councilors asked for closer scrutiny of five‑year projections and the impacts of property‑tax reform on the library’s revenues.","Library officials presented a $89.4 million proposed 2026 budget that relies in part on fund balance to cover an operating gap; councilors asked for corrected slides and clearer five‑year projections before final approval.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499623,"Health & Hospital Corporation outlines multi-year plan after state funding cuts",1174,2626000,3800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884&start=2626&end=3800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884/thumbnail_2626000.jpg","/articles/6499623/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Health-Hospital-Corporation-outlines-multi-year-plan-after-state-funding-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499623-932cfb202227a0d156b6ef085b4ba39f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770701927&Signature=ha1LPT8XRIRnGxUA-ogTxjaU3cPZ6oHpjcgWbFiYU8SkUsJa7pD2Ceq4lfJT4TAK0O8GsdBHfQxAolIqHmosxFXem-kctNFX-bMVOsOTsNHpzdkkgPF7QL683Hcw9QDhVaREkwmgpipu6ZIrOT9SzLgzWjpgqGTqMksiu2fmXOMhqKPSmCjNeowd99RXDSSZ0eqKc9Mz~fzvfj0S0onwCUaqgd-GM47Waf05HcxBty7EJs3iie7dDrqYmx-BZ8M1dLzz584XNoiR0cEPFejWXIp-Onm8QKXEV07McL30cEsPxRNESdHVxbCydF~BAyc12lR-cad73IBvLjtknExkfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul Babcock, president and CEO of the Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC), and CFO James Simpson presented the corporation’s 2026 budget to the Municipal Corporations Committee on Sept. 17, describing multi‑year financial pressures and a plan to improve operations and preserve cash.

Simpson told the committee that both HHC’s general fund and Eskenazi Health fund project roughly $25 million deficits in 2026 and that the corporation is pursuing run‑rate improvements totaling roughly $450 million over five years to reach a target of 240 days’ cash on hand. He said HHC identified $86 million of run‑rate improvements in the 2026 budget and has annual targets for divisional improvements.

Why it matters: HHC runs Marion County’s public health department, Eskenazi Health hospital services and long‑term care operations; its budgets and transfers affect the county’s health safety net, capital investments and the availability of local services for uninsured and low‑income residents.

Major revenue and policy drivers
- State cuts and timing changes: Simpson and Dr. Lisa Harris (CEO, Eskenazi Health) told the committee the state reduced Health First Indiana (HFI) funding drastically (from about $23M to approximately $6M in the HFI fund for 2026) and that changes to upper‑payment‑limit (UPL) and hospital disproportionate share (DISH) timing have reduced expected 2026 receipts.
- HCI/HCI property tax credit: The corporation reported a loss of HCI funding (reported as about $38M statewide change affecting the system) and estimated an approximately $9M local impact tied to property‑tax credits distributed across taxing units.
- Long‑term care UPL: HHC projected the long‑term‑care UPL at about $186M in 2026, of which long‑term care will use roughly $39–40M; HHC projects transferring approximately $147M back to the general fund after IGTs (intergovernmental transfers) of about $65M, leaving a net benefit in the general fund of roughly $82M before other considerations.

Stabilizing steps and commitments
Babcock and Simpson described several board‑level decisions to stabilize Eskenazi operations in 2026, including: a $50,000,000 commitment from the general fund for Eskenazi capital improvements; transferring Eskenazi campus debt to the debt service fund (about $44,000,000); and a $25,000,000 HCI‑replacement transfer to offset state funding reductions. Simpson said the corporation expects to cut its general fund and Eskenazi fund deficits roughly in half by 2027 and return to balanced budgets in 2028 if run‑rate improvements continue and anticipated federal/state payments materialize.

Operational improvements and health services
Dr. Lisa Harris described operational strategies to increase revenue and limit expense growth, including expanding specialty care and growing commercially insured patients, improving primary‑care capacity and mental‑health visits and screening for social drivers of health. Dr. Dan O’Donnell (IMS) described growing EMS run volumes, workforce development programs that recruit and train EMTs and paramedics, and mobile integrated health efforts to reduce 911 use for frequent callers. Dr. Virginia Kane summarized public‑health priorities including immunizations, maternal and infant health and inspections enforcement.

Council discussion and next steps
Committee members asked for more frequent reporting and site visits. Several councilors praised HHC’s workforce training and community programs while also pressing for clarity on assumptions about state‑level changes (the so‑called Big Beautiful Bill/OBBBA impacts) and the corporation’s dependence on long‑term care transfers. Simpson said 2026 cash‑on‑hand will drop to about 220 days in HHC’s projection without additional improvements, and the corporation is modeling scenarios to guard against worse outcomes.

Ending
HHC asked for continued engagement as the state and federal policy landscape evolves; the committee chair asked staff to schedule deeper briefings and facility visits in 2026 so council members can inspect HHC programs and capital projects.","Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation officials told the Municipal Corporations Committee they face multi‑million-dollar revenue losses in 2026, have proposed transfers to stabilize Eskenazi Health operations, and are pursuing $450 million in multi‑year run‑rate improvements to reach a 240‑day cash target.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499628,"Indigo presents $432.3 million budget, previews fare changes and Blue Line impacts",1503,557000,2060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884&start=557&end=2060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778768-6cc02b6a565d232834b9df5281b53884/thumbnail_557000.jpg","/articles/6499628/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Indigo-presents-4323-million-budget-previews-fare-changes-and-Blue-Line-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499628-d698327529fe258250bf259d4843bda0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770701927&Signature=Bb34f7gsg-Hep7iWsfxdOhKAC5ag6tM0srzDIjSrxWLe5govYh-GAFZHcsK7~6SJT4mOHLqZf7nUTCgkQFn9FQcTpHbMdV6I1KaBkXZ~tg~ggPM5lO6K6W2j6gZxh9yTb~SctSqUEONlLNwjrJnEH-Qn~x~ctlQbuH6avoVkwOzCP-jVRJ8R2LGaMxAzJ6ngbpORz07vbXeQTcWAgwXyLiqgfAaya9GHDnXOZ~snbh5R3OUmwMKr54cxwtfpDRHanohWlN5DZX74D3~V5xQczKeKAwTAFnfayn4m6c-PRvi5I3Yiygii1aGthFokAJksz0kZvlh6SJQB7YQI7J4Heg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Indigo President and CEO Jennifer Pierce told the Municipal Corporations Committee on Sept. 17 that the agency’s proposed 2026 budget totals $432,300,000 and focuses on fiscal sustainability, frontline worker protection and increasing ridership.

Pierce said Indigo is using a 0-based budgeting process and has been running a fiscal-sustainability study to “take a look at every single part of our operation,” with an eye to stop spending on items that are no longer necessary and to identify new revenue sources. Chief Financial Officer Bart Brown told the committee the agency asked for $83,979,954 in operating (characters 1–3) in 2026, an increase of about $415,000 from 2025.

The budget includes a capital program heavily supported by federal grants. Brown said Indigo expects about $142,400,000 in capital grants, $20,500,000 in local cash (largely income tax) and $94,600,000 drawn from the $125,000,000 bond issue approved nearly two years earlier. He said federal and competitive grants now support more than half of Indigo’s capital program and that the agency has leveraged local dollars to attract “over half a billion federal dollars back to Indianapolis.”

Why it matters: Indigo’s capital spending funds construction of the Blue Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) across Washington Street and other corridor reconstruction projects that will change traffic patterns and require ongoing maintenance. Pierce told the committee the Blue Line reached 100% design, construction is underway and an opening is anticipated in fall 2028.

Key budget and service details
- Total proposed budget: $432,300,000 (2026 proposed).
- Operating (characters 1–3) request: $83,979,954.
- Capital funding highlights: ~$142.4M in capital grants, $20.5M local cash, $94.6M from the previously-authorized $125M bond.
- Projects: Blue Line BRT (Washington Street), local bus-stop and accessibility improvements, new garage funded by a grant, fleet upgrades including hybrid buses and security doors for operators.

Pierce and Brown also described revenue assumptions: passenger fare revenue was budgeted conservatively (about $5.9M in the operating projection cited by Brown) because experience from earlier BRT rollouts showed an initial dip in ridership during the first months of new service that later recovered. Brown said income tax and property tax are major local revenue sources and that Indigo directs about $20M “off the top” to pay debt service before allocating remaining local tax revenue to capital or operations.

Board actions and fares
Pierce told the committee the Indigo board passed a fare increase in July. She said the agency will implement the increase in January and will upgrade fare-collection equipment mid-next year, moving platform validators onto BRT vehicles and adding new payment options (Google Pay, Apple Pay and tap-to-pay credit cards). Pierce said the changes are intended both to make payment easier for visitors and to reduce confusion on platforms.

Security, workforce and outreach
Pierce and Brown described increased spending on security and paratransit service, and said Indigo has a workforce of about 840 employees (roughly half coach operators). About 75% of staff are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1070. Pierce highlighted workforce programs including an updated “Fair Chance” hiring policy (previously called Second Chance), an operator mentorship program and a recently completed mechanics apprenticeship that awarded state and federal credentials.

Councilor reactions and questions
Councilor Jesse Brown and others pressed Indigo on the distributional impacts of the fare increase, asking how low-income riders who earn less than $25,000 annually will be affected. CFO Bart Brown said benefits were not being cut and explained changes to health plans and a younger workforce mix as reasons health-cost pressure had eased. Council members also asked about maintenance needs created by BRT operation; Indigo staff described preventive pavement maintenance and additional maintenance funding in the budget.

Discussion vs. decisions
The committee heard Indigo’s presentation and asked questions; the committee did not vote on Indigo’s budget. The only formal board action mentioned during the presentation was the Indigo board’s July decision to raise fares; the council took no formal vote on that matter during the Sept. 17 hearing.

Ending
Indigo officials urged residents to sign up for construction updates on the Blue Line project website and to watch outreach materials ahead of fare changes expected in January.","Indigo officials presented a $432.3 million 2026 budget to the Municipal Corporations Committee, highlighting 0-based budgeting, capital grants for the Blue Line, continued federal grant leverage, a planned fare increase approved by the Indigo board and upgrades to fare equipment and payment options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reappoints Richard Wilson Jr. to Indianapolis Public Transportation board

Indianapolis Public Library presents 2026 budget with fund‑balance drawdown and requests clarification

Health & Hospital Corporation outlines multi-year plan after state funding cuts

Indigo presents $432.3 million budget, previews fare changes and Blue Line impacts