Center For Neighborhoods

05/27/2026

LOUISVILLE'S HOUSING CRISIS BY THE NUMBERS
A first-year JCPS teacher makes about $45,000 a year. She can afford $1,125 a month in housing. The average one-bedroom apartment in Louisville is $1,088. They barely qualify. A two-bedroom for them and their child is $1,287. They cannot afford it.
They are not in poverty. They are a working professional. And their on the edge.
If a teacher is on the edge, what about a home health aide making $28,000? A restaurant worker making $24,000? A retired neighbor on Social Security?
Louisville is 36,160 affordable units short for its lowest income residents. That deficit grew 15% in five years. Over 4,600 people are on the public housing waitlist. The wait can last three years.
Since 2020, home prices are up 31%, mortgage rates up 124%, average mortgage payment up 83%. The median home is almost $300,000. On a teacher's salary, a bank will approve roughly $180,000.
12,000 eviction filings per year. 3,951 unhoused students in JCPS. 29,000 homes need repair, owned by people who cannot afford them.
This is not abstract. This is your neighbor.
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget

05/26/2026

PUBLIC SAFETY WEEK: WHAT COUNCIL HEARD
Two nights of budget hearings covered $525 million in public safety spending. Here is what stood out.
LMPD is 132 sworn officers short of what a new staffing study says the city needs. Three recruit classes are planned for next year, but overtime remains a flashpoint. Council learned that LMPD has spent $66 million in overtime over three years, and the FOP contract calculates it differently than every other Metro department. That contract expires next year.
Louisville Fire has 14 of its 31 frontline trucks at or past the 15-year NFPA replacement threshold. Nine are on order, but lead times are four years. A hedge fund bought up manufacturers, slowed production, and raised prices. 94% of the fire budget is personnel.
EMS has completed over 500 drone flights and is expanding to 8 more locations, partnering with JCPS for launch sites. 31 new recruits just graduated. The 911 center is answering calls in an average of 9 seconds.
Council also asked tough questions about how the $6 million suburban fire payment is allocated, whether forfeiture funds could replace bonding for police vehicles, and why LMPD has no reimbursement contract with Churchill Downs for Derby policing.
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget
Next hearings: Housing (May 26), Economic Development (May 28)

05/21/2026

Louisville's budget grew 28% in four years. Not everyone shared in that growth.
The Mayor's Office grew 129%, from $2.45 million under Mayor Fischer to $5.51 million today, with $6.97 million proposed for next year. By FY2027, it would be nearly as large as Metro Council's entire budget.
Meanwhile, the Office of Planning was cut nearly in half. Housing and Community Development shrank 17%. These are the departments most connected to West and South Louisville, the neighborhoods that have historically received the least and need the most.
The budget tells us what we actually prioritize. Swipe to see the numbers.
Final vote: June 25, 2026. Contact your Metro Council member and make your voice heard before then.
Our full analysis is coming.

05/18/2026

WHO GETS YOUR MONEY?
Louisville Metro sends $38.6 million to organizations outside city government every year. But not all of that money goes through the same process.
$8 million (21%) goes through competitive panels where external reviewers score applications using public rubrics. Council members can serve on these panels. 57 organizations compete for this funding.
$30.6 million (79%) goes through department direct contracts. No competitive scoring. No external panel. Departments and the Mayor's office decide.
The largest single recipient is the Louisville Arena Authority at $10.8 million for Yum! Center debt, a contractual obligation. One Louisville receives $3 million for economic development. Thrive by 5 receives $2.6 million for early childhood learning. Goodwill Industries receives $2.5 million across two departments for workforce development and violence intervention.
Meanwhile, 19 arts organizations share $750K, 12 social services organizations share $750K, and 13 violence prevention organizations share $750K, all through competitive panels.
Council is asking for better reporting, standardized outcome metrics, and full transparency on how every dollar reaches the community.
What questions do you have? What would you change?
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget

05/15/2026

🏘️ Neighborhood News & Happenings | May 15, 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/centerforneighborhoods/2026-05-15849854

05/12/2026

THIS WEEK IN BUDGET HEARINGS
Three days of hearings this week covering departments that directly impact your neighborhood.
Monday May 11: Human Resources (4 PM), Public Works (5 PM)
Tuesday May 12: Office of Social Services (4 PM), External Agencies (5:15 PM)
Wednesday May 13: Parks and Recreation (3 PM), Louisville Zoo (4:30 PM), COMMUNITY BUDGET HEARING (6 PM)
Social Services is facing $1.8M in General Fund cuts. The emergency assistance line has been eliminated. Nonprofit contracts are shrinking across the board. Tuesday's hearing is the one to watch.
Wednesday at 6 PM is the Community Budget Hearing, your dedicated opportunity to speak directly to Metro Council about the budget. Last year over 1,000 neighbors submitted comments and Council shifted millions between departments.
IMPORTANT: Metro Government recently changed its meeting platform. Agendas and minutes are now at louisville.legistar.com. During this transition, MetroTV will not be streaming meetings live and there may be delays in posting agendas. Plan to attend in person at 601 W. Jefferson Street, 3rd Floor.
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget
Find your council member: louisvilleky.gov/metro-council

05/11/2026

IMPORTANT: Metro Government recently changed its platform for all board and commission meeting calendars. Metro Council and all other board meetings, agendas, and minutes are now at https://louisville.legistar.com. During this transition, MetroTV will not be streaming meetings live, and there may be delays in posting agendas. Plan to attend in person at 601 W. Jefferson Street, 3rd Floor.
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget
Find your council member: louisvilleky.gov/metro-council

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05/11/2026

THE BUDGET IS A BET ON THE FUTURE
At the first budget hearing, Metro Council learned two things: the city is putting $0 into its rainy day fund this year, and the capital budget is $50 million higher than last year.
The rainy day fund sits at $92.5 million, 10.6% of revenue. The city's own target is 13%. This is the fifth lowest funded year out of the last 17.
At the same time, the city is borrowing $50M more than usual to invest in affordable housing, parks, libraries, a new First Responder Training Facility, and neighborhood infrastructure. The CFO told Council that normal capital debt only covers maintenance and vehicles, leaving nothing for new projects.
Council members were split. One warned the city is "accelerating in areas that create risk" while savings decline. Another pushed back that being too conservative means parks go unmowed, libraries go unstaffed, and residents pay the price for a revenue shortfall that might never come.
Revenue is growing but slower than before. Health insurance just cost $13M more. The surplus that usually funds the rainy day fund may not be there this year.
These are the trade-offs your elected officials are weighing right now.
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget
Next hearings: Social Services (May 12), Parks and Zoo (May 13), Community Budget Hearing (May 13 at 6 PM)

05/08/2026

🏘️ Neighborhood News & Happenings | May 8, 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/centerforneighborhoods/2026-05-08

05/06/2026

BUDGET HEARINGS ARE HERE
The Metro Council is reviewing every department's budget in public hearings over the next four weeks. All meetings are open to the public at 601 W. Jefferson Street. You can also watch live on Metro TV (Spectrum 184) or Facebook Live, streamed by the Louisville Metro Council page.
Save these dates:
May 7: Revenue and Budget Overview
May 11: HR, Public Works
May 12: Social Services, External Agencies
May 13: Parks, Zoo, COMMUNITY BUDGET HEARING at 6 PM
May 20: Facilities, Police/LMPD
May 21: Fire/EMS, Emergency Services, Animal Services
May 26: Housing, Violence Prevention
May 28: Economic Development, Codes
Jun 1: Corrections, Public Health, Library
Jun 25: FINAL VOTE at 6 PM
Last year, over 1,000 neighbors submitted written comments. Your voice matters.
Submit your budget comments: tinyurl.com/2026-metro-budget
Find your council member: louisvilleky.gov/metro-council