Fort Wayne City Council members cut about $11 million from Mayor Sharon Tucker's proposed 2027 city budget during their Tuesday meeting, removing funding tied to development of the North River District and money for a public downtown restroom, according to local reporting.
Tucker pushed back in a statement after the meeting, calling the cuts unnecessary and saying most passed on mainly party-line votes. She said council members removed the items while telling her administration to return later and ask for the same funds again.
The mayor's original proposal put the property-tax-supported Civil City budget at $257.7 million, a 2.9 percent increase over 2026. It included a planned $42 million investment in neighborhood infrastructure, a 71st Fort Wayne Police Department recruit class sized to keep 510 officers on patrol, and a 100th fire department recruit class to maintain 375 firefighters.
Tucker has said the budget was built to prepare the city for revenue changes expected over the next five years as recent state legislative changes phase in. The budget process continues this month, with final council action expected before the plan takes effect for 2027.
