Committee Moves $1 Million from Stormwater Fund into Parks Fund for Urban Forestry Preservation
November 06, 2025 | Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana
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Chair Dan Boots and Councilors Hart and Barth championed the transfer, which moves money that had been held in the stormwater fund into a parks-dedicated account so it is clearly available for tree and land acquisition not tied to stormwater capital requirements. Councilor Bridal Delaney told the committee she had used the prior allocation to purchase Haversted Creek Woods and sought clarification that the funds were not currently restricted to stormwater-only uses.
Abby Hanson, the city controller, told the committee: "It was originally income tax funds that we received from the state. We transferred it toward the stormwater fund." She said the money has not been spent and that moving it into the parks fund removes the restriction that requires stormwater funds to be used only for stormwater projects. Hanson said the Department of Public Works has also proposed adding $1 million per year to stormwater mitigation beginning in 2025 and that roughly $2,000,000 in the capital plan has been suggested for stormwater-related urban forest preservation.
Councilors Jared Evans and Bridal Delaney asked to be added as cosponsors before the motion was moved and seconded; the committee approved Proposal 3-68 by voice vote.
The transcript includes no roll-call tally. The controller characterized the change as an accounting move that preserves the intended policy purpose—urban forestry preservation—while removing the restriction that would require the money to be spent only on stormwater projects.
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