The Indianapolis city-county budget, explained
Follow the money—and find out how spending decisions affect our everyday lives.
Every year, Indianapolis leaders put together the city’s budget for the next year. It’s a plan for how the city government will get money and spend that money. Some of that money comes from us, taxpayers who live in Marion County.
The breakdown of how much money goes where shows you what the city values.
Agencies develop budget proposals each May with guidance from the Office of Finance and Management. This year, the city controller’s office told every department to cut 4% from their budgets, except for the police department, fire department and sheriff’s office.
On Aug. 11, Mayor Joe Hogsett presented a $1.7 billion dollar budget for 2026 to the City-County Council. The budget will be put before the council for approval Oct. 6. Before then, councilors from each of the city’s 25 districts will give their feedback during committee meetings. You have the chance to share feedback, too.
Indy council passes Hogsett’s $1.7B budget: How the city plans to spend money
State and federal budget cuts posed challenges for some departments.
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Highlights from Mayor Hogsett’s $1.7B Indy budget proposal
The mayor did not seek a tax increase as most departments faced modest cuts.
How do you think the city should spend its money?
💰 Go to a council committee meeting
Council committee meetings are happening from now to Sept. 19. During these meetings, you can learn how much money is going to things that affect our everyday lives: roads, parks, public safety.
Committee meetings are where the public can comment on budgets for specific departments. Check the online calendar to decide which ones you want to go to.
For a more detailed schedule, look at the budget presentation schedule. It includes both committee meetings and review and analysis meetings.
You can attend review and analysis meetings, but you can’t give public comment. At those meetings, the relevant department leaders answer councilors’ questions and councilors vote on whether to send their part of the budget back to the full council for approval.
💰 Go to the public hearing
A public hearing on the budget will be held at the Sept. 22 City-County Council meeting. You can go and give public comment.
If you want to prepare ahead of time, the budget document is posted online 10 days before the meeting, Sept. 12.
City-County Council meetings start at 7 p.m. at the City-County Council Building, 200 E. Washington St. Head up the elevators to the second floor to the public assembly room.
Helpful links to understand the budget
The 2026 proposed budget book shows where the money comes from and how it will be used in 2026. On page 13 and 14, you can see the calendar that breaks down the budget process.
If you want to see how much this year’s proposed budget differs from last year, check out the adopted 2025 budget.