2024 Noblesville City Budget Introduced To Common Council

The Noblesville 2024 Civil City budget was introduced to the Common Council at its Sept. 26 meeting. The budget will be eligible for adoption at the Oct. 24 council meeting. The 2024 proposed Civil City budget totals $116,108,606, with an operational budget of $97,326,759 which excludes bond payments.

Mayor Chris Jensen’s budget aligns spending with revenue trends to keep taxes low while serving a growing community, continues to focus on all four of his Policy Pillars, and maintains continued focus on government modernization, cost containment, and proactive preservation of taxpayer-owned assets.

“Our city is growing and with that growth comes increased revenues and expenses to meet the needs of the ninth largest community in the state,” said Jensen. “This proposed budget maintains cash reserves as contingency to address needs that may arise in the future, while allowing the city to continue executing the goals and framework developed in the city’s 10-year Capital Improvement Plan.”

Jensen’s 2024 proposed budget continues strategic investments that prioritize public safety, road and infrastructure improvements, efficient and effective city services, economic and tourism development, preserving and enhancing our historic downtown, and quality of life for our residents. It also emphasizes return on investment and value proposition principles to justify expenditures of taxpayer funds.

“This budget prioritizes the demands of our growing city and focuses on the current and long-term goals the council and administration have for Noblesville,” said Common Council President Aaron Smith. “This budget efficiently balances inflationary pressures and costs to keep the city in a strong financial position.”

Like 2023, the budget continues to spend down a portion of the city’s reserve balances while maintaining a property tax rate of $1.10 per $100 of assessed value, which the city has held for five consecutive years. The 2024 budget includes $7.5 million in one-time spending.

“2024’s revenues are projected to exceed ongoing expenses by $7.5 million,” City Controller Jeff Spalding said. “The certified net assessed value growth for 2024 was strong again at 10.25 percent, which tracks with the average growth that we have experienced under Mayor Jensen’s leadership and provides opportunities for smart investments that are reflected in this proposal.”

The proposed budget includes $11.1 million in major road improvement projects. This amount does not include the $4.5 million in state and federal funding the city has received for the Little Chicago Road Pedestrian Bridge and more than $7.8 million for road projects like Pleasant Street Phases II and III, and a roundabout at 141st and Promise Road. It also includes a 5 percent cost-of-living adjustments for civilian employees and 8 percent for most sworn police/fire personnel.

Key features of the 2024 Civil City budget include:

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Public Safety

• The police and fire departments account for 50.1 percent of the operating budget, including eight new sworn police officers and two civilian positions along with a new ambulance to support demands and quicker response times in a growing community.
• Site preparation and design for a new police station to replace the outdated facility that has been in use since the 1992.
• Further expansion of the Noble Act program, including an in-house licensed clinical social worker to work alongside police and fire personnel who are assisting individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and other needs.
• Equipment and training support for the 15 new firefighters whose base compensation is being funded by the federal SAFER grant program.

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Road and Infrastructure Improvements

• Continued investment in the Reimagine Pleasant Street east-west corridor project. Phase 1 of the project is on schedule and within budget. Phases 2 and 3 will commence in early 2024.
• Preliminary engineering for widening Boden Road and Olio Road.
• Additional resources to clear snow off of city neighborhood streets quickly and safety after snow events and an additional tree arborist position to help maintain the 32,000+ trees in city right-of-way and on public properties.

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Economic and Tourism Development

• 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.
• Resources to ensure timely completion and high-quality delivery of mixed used projects at the Village at Federal Hill, East Bank and Midland Pointe.
• Resources to finalize design and manage construction of the Noblesville Events Center that will be the new home court of the Indiana Pacers G League franchise starting in 2025.

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Quality of Life, Downtown and Recreation

• Public purpose grants for Noblesville Main Street, Nickel Plate Arts (Noblesville Creates), Noblesville Preservation Alliance, Noblesville Youth Sports Alliance, Keep Noblesville Beautiful and the Indiana Peony Festival.
• Design and site mobilization for further activation of Finch Creek Park, including trails, greenspace and possible outdoor sports fields and related amenities.
• Funding for the Midland Trace Trail, which will connect with the Riverwalk Trail and Nickel Plate Trail to create a 40-mile trail loop in Hamilton and Marion counties, and a trail connection between Federal Hill Commons and Forest Park.