Happy Friday, Evansville, and welcome back to the Friday Focus!

After a week filled with Fall Festival fun (and trying every Westsider item I could), city business has been moving full speed ahead. This week brought major moments for education, sports, and city infrastructure; we also continued sharing information about our 2026 City Budget, which City Council adopted last Monday.

This year’s budget focuses on the basics: public safety, infrastructure, and neighborhood revitalization. It also reflects the reality that cities across Indiana are navigating new financial constraints created by Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), the statewide property tax cap legislation signed by Governor Braun earlier this year.

While the intent of SEA 1 was to provide property tax relief for homeowners, its impact on cities and towns is significant. Across Indiana, Republican and Democrat mayors alike are balancing higher costs for materials, utilities, and public safety salaries with lower revenue to fund those services. Communities like Goshen, Lafayette, and Muncie have already shared examples of delayed projects and postponed hiring as they work to adjust; cities like Vincennes were still looking for how to make up their lost revenue this year, while Bloomington announced that it’s expecting to use up to $30 million in reserves to balance their budget.

Here in Evansville, we’re proud to have presented a budget that protects essential services without raising local income taxes. But it’s important to be transparent: this law will create ongoing challenges for local governments statewide, and we’ll need continued creativity and partnership to meet those challenges while keeping Evansville moving forward.

Speaking of moving forward, here are a few highlights from this week across our community:

• Celebrating Leadership at USI. On Wednesday, I had the honor of bringing greetings on behalf of the City of Evansville at the inauguration of Dr. Steven J. Bridges as the University of Southern Indiana’s fifth president. It was a beautiful event celebrating USI’s proud history and its bright future, as the University inaugurated one of its own alumni as president for the first time. Our city and university have always shared a special partnership, and I look forward to strengthening that collaboration as USI continues shaping the next generation of leaders for our region.
• OVC Media Day at the Ford Center. I was also pleased to help welcome the Ohio Valley Conference back to Evansville this week for its annual Media Day, just 141 days before the start of the men’s and women’s basketball championships. The OVC recently signed a five-year extension to hold those tournaments in the Ford Center through 2032. That’s great news not just for fans but for our local businesses, restaurants, and hotels. We’re proud that Evansville and the Ford Center continue to be recognized as premier hosts for collegiate athletics.
• Road and Infrastructure Progress. Several major paving projects are wrapping up across the city, with permanent striping underway on Washington Avenue, N. Garvin, Court Street, and Lincoln Avenue. And Walnut Street is also fully reopened as of today(!), with only minor closures ahead for finishing touches. We appreciate everyone’s patience as these final improvements are completed.
• Public Records Requests. I also want to take a moment to thank residents for your engagement with city government. When you submit a public records request, please know that we are committed to transparency, but that the records request process does take time. Staff often have to pause daily responsibilities to locate, review, and prepare those records, and we appreciate your patience as we work to fulfill requests thoroughly and accurately.
• Looking Ahead: Traveling City Hall/Utility Resource Fair. My team is also preparing for our final Traveling City Hall of the year on Monday, November 3 at Eastland Mall. That Traveling City Hall also will serve as a Utility Resource Fair; we already have eight community partners participating, including the Indiana Energy Saver Program, which will be onsite to help residents sign up for energy-efficiency assistance.

Finally, tonight I look forward to joining the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission for the annual Mayor’s Celebration of Human Rights Awards, and tomorrow, I’ll be reading to children at the Evansville Wartime Museum.

Thank you for reading this week’s Friday Focus. I’m proud of the progress we’re making and grateful for everyone helping to move Evansville forward together.

Have a wonderful weekend!