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Council approves Downtown Evansville EID 2026 budget after presentation on safety, events and DORA
Summary
The Evansville Common Council adopted Resolution C2025-26 to approve the Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District’s 2026 budget after a presentation emphasizing clean-and-safe operations, events, marketing and a new DORA permitting model; vote was 9-0.
The Evansville Common Council on Dec. 1 voted 9–0 to adopt Resolution C2025-26, approving the 2026 budget of the Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District (EID) following a presentation by EID Executive Director Adam Trinkle.
Trinkle told the council the EID’s budget relies primarily on property-owner assessments, which account for more than 76% of the organization’s revenue, and outlined program priorities including beautification, clean-and-safe operations and advocacy for downtown property owners. "We're a small but mighty team," Trinkle said, describing a staff of four full‑time employees and several part‑time contractors who perform street cleaning, plantings and other maintenance.
The presentation highlighted operations and outcomes: the EID said its teams collected more than 5,000 bags of litter in the past year, planted hundreds of flowers and contracted off‑duty foot patrols—at roughly $25,000 a year—to improve downtown safety and responsiveness. Trinkle credited collaborations with city departments and local nonprofits such as Keep Evansville Beautiful and local social-service providers for outreach and resource coordination.
Trinkle also described the District’s events and marketing work, including a downtown Christmas event and a growing sponsor base. He explained the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), a state-authorized tool that lets approved downtown permittees sell beverages that consumers may carry off‑site within the DORA area, and said the program has helped generate new revenue streams for businesses.
Councilors asked clarifying questions about assessment calculations and revenue sources; Trinkle said assessments vary by property type and proximity to the district core and noted the board approved the budget at its September meeting. After roll-call voting, the clerk declared Resolution C2025-26 adopted by a recorded 9–0 vote.
Next steps: The EID will proceed under its adopted 2026 budget; city staff will continue to coordinate on provisioning of public services and approvals tied to events and downtown operations.
