Public-safety portion of 2026 budget approved by committee amid debate over police vehicles, immigration and detention funding

The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee voted Wednesday to approve two consent items adopting the 2026 tax levy and rate for the Fire Special Service District (proposals 256 and 257) and to adopt the committee’s portion of the 2026 City of Indianapolis and Marion County budget (proposal 259). The committee carried the budget portion by roll-call vote after public discussion.

Controller Abby Hanson, who presented administrative details, described the proposals for the committee as routine administrative actions for the special service district council and the committee’s appropriations.

On the record: the committee adopted proposals 256 and 257 by voice vote; it approved proposal 259 (the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee portion of the 2026 annual budget) by roll call. The roll call included the following recorded votes: Boots — aye; Carlino — no; Bellany — aye; Graves — aye; Hart — no; Mascari — aye; McCormick — aye; Mowery — aye; Perkins — yes; Robinson (chair) — aye. The committee reported the motion as carried.