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Council approves $-level appropriations package, debates ARPA spending and casino-fund EMS loan
Summary
Council adopted an amended ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriations including ARPA funds, a casino-fund loan draw for EMS projects, urban forestry grant entry fee and other items; the measure passed 6–1 after questions about casino-fund use and ARPA deadlines.
The Evansville Common Council on March 30 adopted Ordinance F2026-02 (amended), a consolidated package of transfers and appropriations touching multiple city funds and capital projects.
Controller Robert Gunter outlined several line items: a CARES Act balance (~$3,002) proposed for police PPE; $50,000 of ARPA interest for Evansville War Museum items; $300,000 of ARPA for the United Caring Center; a $3,700 entry fee to unlock Indiana University-supported urban forestry services (a $17,000 canopy assessment and $125,000 planting plan); $558,335 from cash for relocation of electrical services on the Lloyd Expressway; an approximately $6.36 million EEOC/human relations grant to be spent on contractual services; $1,276,000 drawn from a previously authorized $7 million casino-fund loan to cover EMS station projects; opioid grant funds ($100,644) and a $25,000 Casino Cash request to pay an authority for maintenance at Innovation Point.
Councilors pressed staff on deadlines and remaining balances for ARPA funds; the controller said ARPA obligations must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026 and that about $7.25 million remains to be spent (roughly $2 million is interest and need not be spent). Council also asked for a current casino-fund cash balance; staff agreed to provide updated cash reports.
A councilor opposed the ordinance based on principled opposition to using casino funds for EMS (recorded as the lone nay); the ordinance passed 6–1. The controller said the casino loan will be repaid within three years and that future joint-department budgets will include county cost-share for the radio core and other joint equipment.
Next steps: departments will implement appropriations per the controller’s office; staff promised follow-up cash reports and continued monitoring of ARPA deadlines.
