Sep 24, 2024 6 min read

Sept. 24, 2024 | 2025 City budget review + more

Hey Locals,

This week, we're talking about things to watch in Mayor Sharon Tucker's 2025 City budget proposal, being presented to City Council tonight. We also share updates on the Allen County Jail project and a new roundabout near Electric Works.

In the Local Spotlight, we feature rising R&B artist, Cambry H, hosting a release party for his new EP this week.

Don't forget: In September, The Local is partnering with Charlie’s Place to bring all paid subscribers a free order of “Fries, but Loaded” with beer cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get those fries!

Now, let's get started!

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

What to know about Mayor Sharon Tucker's 2025 City budget.

What's happening?

Last week, Mayor Sharon Tucker and City Controller Garry Morr announced the City's proposed 2025 budget, noting it's balanced and allows for a 5% reduction in the City’s tax rate. A news release lists "positive indicators" as local assessed valuations on properties rising 12 consecutive years and steady revenue growth allowing the City to maintain a "very strong fund balance" and have "sufficient cash reserves" to respond to emergencies.

Most local media outlets reported on the story by publishing a similar version of the City's news release. But there are a few important points to note:

The overall 2025 budget is down more than $7 million from 2024. Morr says the decrease stems from the local income tax supplemental funds the state granted Fort Wayne in early August, now being spent. Mayor Tucker says: “This is the first time in a very long time that the city has seen a small decrease in the budget.”
Your taxes might not go down. Director of Purdue University Fort Wayne's Community Research Institute, Rachel Blakeman, notes that while the mayor has proposed a 5% reduction in the City’s tax rate, your taxes are tied to the market value of Fort Wayne homes, which is going up. “So it might be misguided to think that your taxes, when you get the bill next year, will be less,” Blakeman says. “Keep in mind that, as a city resident and homeowner, you’re paying taxes to multiple tax districts, too.”
There's reduced funding for Parks & Rec. Parks & Rec. funding is reduced by 7.53% – making the amount for 2025 lower than the 2023 amount. Community Development and Public Works are seeing 25%+ reductions from their revised 2024 amounts, as well.

We share more points to note in our premium newsletter.

The City will present its 2025 budget proposal to City Council tonight for a first reading. “One of the interesting dynamics is: You have a mayor who, as of last year, was sitting at the council table, and this year is presenting the budget to council," Blakeman says.

We have asked City officials and members of council for comment, and we'll report back when we know more.

Fort Wayne is (likely) getting a new roundabout near Electric Works at Broadway and Taylor. Last week, City Council approved preliminary plans for the area* along Broadway, stretching from Wall Street to Creighton Avenue, and along Taylor, from Rivergreenway access at the St. Marys River to Fairfield Avenue. Council will finalize the vote tonight. The project costs $7 million and will be covered 80 percent by a $5.6 million "Safer Streets for All" grant from the Federal Highway Administration. City officials say there have been plans to improve the intersection for about 10 years. The area has seen more than 300 accidents in a five-year period, and roundabouts significantly decrease accidents and injuries.
Members of Allen County Residents Against the Jail (ACRAJ) are ending their lawsuit against the new jail's financing plan. The group announced its decision last week in an opinion column in The JG,* saying the county could build a large enough jail for less money than the estimated $316 million new facility commissioners have proposed. Then the county could put more money toward mental health care and other solutions. They believe a larger jail will not solve issues at the current Downtown facility. Regardless, commissioners say they are "fully prepared to move forward"* with the new jail project, now that the ACRAJ lawsuit is resolved, and the next status report due to federal court is Nov. 4.

Plus: local restaurant updates, a community health survey and more. We cover it all in our premium newsletter.

Local R&B artist Cambry H is releasing his new EP.

Details on the free release party and more.

What’s happening?

Rising R&B artist Cambry H is releasing his EP, "001," with a free release party at Astra Lounge on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. The event features a track-by-track breakdown of the five-song project, giving fans an intimate look at his creation process.

Here are a few quick things to know:

The music: Cambry's "001" is genre-bending collection, characterized by his emotive lyrics, rich harmonies and 2000s-era nostalgia. "Sonically, it’s a blend of all the things I like," Cambry says. "So there’s a drum and bass element, especially on the title track '001.' There’s an alternative adult/contemporary element in the last track, and then you have songs that mimic what Pharrell and Kelis would have been making in the early-2000s. You also have the single, 'All Night,' which is very reminiscent of the late-2000s R&B Darkchild, Brandy and Bobby V."
Fun fact: Cambry walked the red carpet this year in May at the GLADD Media Awards in New York for his work on the documentary “Kokomo City.” He regularly works with creatives across the country and around the world to produce films and music.
You might know him: from his work DJing around town, like at Penny Drip's late-night events. Cambry says he got into DJing to make extra money when he lived in New York, and since he's returned to Fort Wayne, it's been a way to share the type of music he likes to hear.

Learn more about his background and EP release party in our full story.

Celebrate fall: at the free Fall Harvest Festival at Solomon Farm Park on Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The two-day event features farm animals, wagon and barrel trail rides, a farmers market, wheat threshing, corn shredding, an antique tractor parade and more.
Cheer: on runners at the annual Fort4Fitness Fall Festival on Sept. 28, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The fall festival features four races: a 4-Mile, a 10K, a Half Marathon, and a Triple Crown. BYO chair, and join a neighborhood watch party, or catch live music at the finish line at Parkview Field.
Dine: at Restaurant Week on The Landing now-Sept. 28. The event includes special prix-fixe menus with reduced prices at 11 restaurants, including: Bistro NOTA, Papi's Pizza, Mercado, Marquee, Dana's, Tolon, Kanela, Arbor, Nawa, Utopian and BRU Burger Bar.

What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.