The proposal looks to move money from the general fund that goes to the police department to support affordable housing, and replace that police funding with dollars from the public safety income tax fund.
The amendment specifically spells out that it is not intended to reduce funding to the police department.
News - as covid-19 pick- pockets ---city budgets -- including evansville's.
Funding for the river city's biggest organizations - is moving one way or another.
Low income housing - is in need of a life line - but to do that - 250 thousand dollars - will be need to be moved from the police department's regular source of funding.
We go now to 44news reporter erran huber - erran --- will e- p-d see funding for 2021 come from somewhere else?
It's certainly possible now.
Council president alex burton-- declining to withdraw his amendment tonight.
But the amendment-- says directly-- it's not intended to defund the police.
When we talk about moving funds, it happens in the realm of government.
It's happened on council many of times.
But an amendment to the budget from city council president alex burton pushback.
"it's up to you to stand up for the people of evansville and socialism is not what we want."
A proposal to shuffle around general fund money*originally earmarked for police-- to affordable housing from the public.
"that's all i have to say.
You guys are looking in the wrong area!"
But some support it.
"we need funding for both --we ask your support to fund these community concerns."
The amendment looks to reduce the evansville police budget that originally comes from the general fund by 250-thousand dollars-- and move that to the affordable housing trust fund.
Then--take 250- thousand from the public safety local income tax -- that isn't allocated-- and use it to fill the gap in the police department's budget.
The intent being-- that e-pd --- itself will ultimately see no reduction in funding.
"there is a separate bucket of public safety local income tax dollars, that often basically sits there, and is something that can be drawn from to fund the budget.
Public safety budget goes down, and the fund goes down, but the budget for the police stays the same."
But the meeting quickly turned into a way for those gathered to express their support for officers.
"i feel like all across our country, people are taking the opportunity to make a statement, and put police down, and i don't think evansville should follow that trend."
Opposition also came from -- the head of the fraternal order of police -- pushing for more money -- to purchase -- equipment for officers.
We are short on money.
We do not buy ammo because of being short on money.
What we do in place of it, is i shoot a plastic gun at a video game.
And that is my training once a quarter.
This was just the first reading for the amendment.
It'll need to have a second-- before a vote.
The next city council meeting is set--for september 28th live in evansville -eh new