Five Ways Noblesville's 2024 Budget Impacts You
Hint: It includes public safety funding, sidewalks, brick streets and more
It’s been a busy few weeks in Indiana’s 9th largest city.1 This update is mostly about the city budget and why it matters to your family — but first some big wins:
Plan Commission voted to protect downtown: A little over a year ago, the Council passed an ordinance to protect Old Town and make the development process more transparent. This ordinance was put to the test this month when a building owner sought to demolish a building on Conner Street to expand a parking lot. I applaud the Plan Commission for rejecting the measure and protecting Old Town.
Pleasant Street is on time and on budget: The County’s work on the bridge over the White River is ongoing and the City is wrapping up construction on 8th Street. Our section of this phase (8th Street) is set to reopen in early November. Take a look behind the scenes here:
The Noblesville Advisory Council on Disabilities comes to life: At our last meeting, the Council appointed Jennifer Sell and Jeff Huffman as our representatives to this important group. I’m excited to see the advisory council begin to impact Noblesville! More on this here.
Let’s dive in: The Budget
This budget maintains our tax rate, makes significant investments in public safety, downtown, and infrastructure — all while protecting healthy cash reserves.
The process to organize and finalize the City budget is a months-long process, starting in Spring and ending in October.2 While each Council member approaches the budgeting process differently, I look to the City's budget to:
Provide a fiscally responsible runway. The State of Indiana recommends that cities target 12% of their annual revenue for cash reserves — we have increased that to a minimum of 15%. This is always important, but especially during periods of economic unknowns.
Serve as a guide to the next year. Departments are instructed to include both staffing & project goals in their presentations. This is the best opportunity for departments heads to make bold, strategic decisions.
Align with the future goals of Noblesville. Just like my own business, our city's budgeting priorities must reflect the direction we'd like Noblesville to go.
So what does the budget fund?
I’m glad you asked. Here are some highlights you should know:
Public Safety:
Police and Fire: The police and fire departments account for 50.1 percent of the operating budget. This includes eight new sworn police officers and two civilian positions along with a new ambulance to support demands and quicker response times.
New Public Safety Building: Site preparation and design for a new police station to replace the outdated facility.
Expansion of the Noble Act program: Includes a social worker to work alongside police and fire personnel who are assisting individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and other needs.
Fire Equipment and Training Support: This is specifically for the 15 new firefighters whose base compensation is being funded by the federal SAFER grant program.
Economic Development:
Innovation Mile: Continued investment in Innovation Mile, the master planned 600-acre business district near I-69 and Exit 210 that will anchor economic and business growth on Noblesville’s east side.
New Development: Resources to ensure timely completion and high-quality delivery of mixed used projects at the Village at Federal Hill, East Bank and Midland Pointe.
Road and Infrastructure Improvements:
Pleasant Street: Phase 1 of the project is on schedule and within budget. Phases 2 and 3 will commence in early 2024.
Trails & Parks: Dollars to complete and connect the Midland Trace and and Little Chicago Trails, in addition to investments in Finch Creek Park.
East Side Investment: Preliminary engineering for widening Boden Road and Olio Road.
How does the budget impact me?
Great question. Here are five items in the budget that I’ve pulled out to show how your tax dollars are at work to enhance the community around you.
Budget Case Study #1: Protecting Brick Streets
Where: Logan and Clinton Streets
Cost: $200,000
Areas of Importance: Infrastructure, Preservation, Downtown
The bricks on Logan and Clinton Streets are one of the hallmarks of Noblesville. Visitors and residents rave about them, the Front Porch Music Festival brings them life, and it’s on us to take care of them.
Over the span of the last year, I’ve been working with Council members to create an actionable, long-term plan to allocate funds ensuring the bricks on Logan and Clinton Streets are cared for and preserved.
This budget allocates $200,000 that will equip the City to start going block-by-block rehabilitating brick (with bricks matching in character), fixing the underlying roadbed when necessary, and ensuring the curbs are in place for decades to come.
Budget Case Study #2: Fire Station Capital Investment Priority Assessment
Where: City-wide, specifically targeting Noblesville’s east side
Cost: $500,000
Areas of Importance: Public Safety
As we grow, investment in public safety is one of the most important expenditures we undertake. With the expected growth on the east side of Noblesville, we will eventually need to build an additional fire station.3 This due diligence process will equip the City and Fire Department with tools to ensure we’re investing taxpayer dollars in the best area to build public services before residents in Noblesville arrive.
Budget Cast Study #3: Boden and Olio Roads
Where: Boden & Olio Roads
Cost: $2.1 million
Areas of Importance: Infrastructure
I frequently hear that the City should not be making infrastructure improvements as developments are coming out of the ground. I hear that and agree that it's not ideal to have to do both at the same time. Between our investment in Innovation Mile and Pulte, the area east of Boden is the next to see growth.
To be good stewards of our resources, we’re putting funding in place now to upgrade Boden, Olio, 156th and 166th Streets prior to new developments and residents coming to town.
Budget Case Study #4: Old Town Sidewalks
Where: Old Town
Cost: $290,000
Areas of Importance: Infrastructure, Downtown
In my time on Council, I’m most proud of our City’s investment in the Old Town Sidewalk Program. This program was created to "grade" all sidewalks in Old Town, identify "gaps" where sidewalks don't currently exist, and replace sections systematically, based on need.
It’s a seemingly small program, but connecting residents and neighborhoods with sidewalks is such an important aspect of creating a cohesive community, especially in Old Town. As pedestrian connectivity becomes more important, I’ll keep advocating for this program to grow.
Budget Case Study #5: Public Safety Building Investment
Where: City-wide
Cost: $2.5 million
Areas of Importance: Public Safety
The Police Department, Fire Department, and City Court all have offices within the Public Safety Building downtown Noblesville. All three divisions outgrew the space many years ago.
With that in mind, the Administration and Council have made it a priority to invest in a new building that will allow public safety to expand in Noblesville. This investment is a down payment on that process, equipping the team in place to move through the site selection process and continue working toward completion of design that was initiated last year.
Before you go, a few trending stories:
Here are a few stories you may have missed on Noblesville over the past month:
Fox59: Baby box installed in Noblesville; marks 105th safe surrender box in Indiana
Hamilton County Reporter: Indiana Joint Replacement Institute breaks ground as first new tenant of Noblesville’s Innovation Mile
Hamilton County Reporter: Nickel Plate Arts unveils rebrand as Noblesville Creates
Noblesville is growing — and quickly. In 2021, the IndyStar shared an article that listed Noblesville as the 10th largest city in Indiana. Since then, we’ve eclipsed Lafayette as the 9th largest. We have a bit to go until we get close to Hammond at 77k.
The proposed budget follows the approximate timeline:
August: City Council previews budget with specific requests from the administration and department heads
September: Budget submitted to Finance Committee & introduced to Council
October: Council votes on final budget.
In Currently, we have one fire station on the east side of SR-37 off of Olio Road