Michael McDaniel

Oct 11, 2024 | indystar.com | Michael McDaniel |Michael Mcdaniel

A Lawrence councilor called for the city’s chief budget official to be fired Thursday after its Department of Public Works director asserted the controller lied to a board and the Common Council about $1.3 million in funds absent in Democratic Mayor Deb Whitfield’s proposed 2025 DPW budget. The call came amid ongoing drama surrounding the budget in the city and just days after the city's Chief of Staff Zach Brown announced his resignation.

Oct 8, 2024 | indystar.com | Michael McDaniel |Michael Mcdaniel

A Lawrence councilor rebuked the city’s chief budget official Monday after residents petitioned the city over allegations of past irresponsible spending, future budget overspending and accounting “gimmicks” in the city’s proposed . “The budget currently before us is neither balanced nor responsible and employs questionable tactics to obscure financial shortfalls while depriving essential services such as public safety and public works,” he said.

Oct 8, 2024 | indystar.com | Michael McDaniel |Michael Mcdaniel

Indianapolis City-County Council passed next year's $1.6 billion budget Monday, despite concerns from some councilors about Mayor Joe Hogsett's approach to infrastructure and public safety. The budget was approved 16-9 — the narrowest budget approval margin in recent years — with three Democratic councilors and all six Republicans opposing it.

Sep 12, 2024 | indystar.com | Michael McDaniel |Michael Mcdaniel

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spent more than eight times its allocated overtime budget last year in part because IMPD is at the lowest staffing level in history, the police chief told city councilors at a committee hearing Wednesday. IMPD Police Chief Christopher Bailey said at a Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee budget meeting that his department spent around $20 million in overtime, around eight times higher than what the city allocates.

Sep 9, 2024 | indystar.com | Hayleigh Colombo |Michael McDaniel |Michael Mcdaniel

The Council overwhelmingly voted to hire an independent firm to “thoroughly investigate” allegations made against former Chief Deputy Mayor Thomas Cook and others. The council could subpoena the administration as they investigate how claims against Cook and others were handled. "Our job is to figure out where the systems went wrong and fix those systems so this never happens again," said Council Vice President Ali Brown.