The Terre Haute City Council on June 5 approved two appropriations tied to grants and casino revenue aimed at transportation, parks, cemetery equipment and IT upgrades.

Community Crossings appropriation: The council approved appropriation 5-20-25 to move $1,373,636 from the Community Crossings grant into the city’s construction/contract lines so bids can be awarded and projects constructed. Marcus Meyer, City Engineer, told council the city submitted a $3 million project package and was awarded $1.5 million as a 50/50 match; actual award depends on bid quantities and the projects are intended to be contracted this season.

Casino revenue appropriation: The council also approved appropriation 6-20-25, a $118,750 allocation of casino gaming revenue. Mayor and staff outlined priorities: equipment purchases for parks and streets (including a loader and pothole patching equipment), a playground equipment purchase and completion of neighborhood park revitalization projects (Coy Park and others), cemetery equipment (a mechanized excavator to reduce manual labor) and IT licensing/cybersecurity upgrades (updating Microsoft licensing and cyber defenses). Council heard that casino monthly/quarterly revenue is running ahead of early estimates and leadership plans to use new revenue to build reserves, pay down leases and invest in neighborhood priorities.

Why it matters: City officials said the appropriations will support small-to-medium capital projects and operations: street resurfacing through Community Crossings; park and cemetery equipment and playground updates funded by local casino revenue; and improved IT resilience for city systems.

Council action: Council members moved and seconded appropriation motions and passed both appropriations by voice vote. Members discussed the need to preserve some casino revenue for debt reduction and reserves while investing a portion this year on targeted capital needs.

Ending: Staff said the Community Crossings projects would proceed to bid and the parks, cemetery and IT purchases would be scheduled; the mayor noted the city aims to build savings and pay off leases over the coming years.