[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6498758,"mediaKeyId","5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6","parentId",5602637,"title","Purdue Extension in Marion County requests $969,694; will administer VITA tax-assistance sites","audioSeconds",534,"startMs",3437315,"endMs",3972305,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6&start=3437&end=3972","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6/thumbnail_3437315.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6498758/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Purdue-Extension-in-Marion-County-requests-969694-will-administer-VITA-tax-assistance-sites","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498758-9ce2c80cb1043a3e9fb1112b94e0a8a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183952&Signature=MnoLRfuRAWDF9AnD2BjThLy0XJ44WoWWtM72T9uSc2zmSV8JJvJSDPov87fVsuLsRDC47B-W4MkPL4cq0029jr060cqtQgAPw16~FgaE2N7CI~JjsMicBmggL0X2XLwR-N337yq1zIiGYbEC2VsX01tCLOHbnErqcZLFWhMVndiEkydrBliYX~V45uv1XrLFzF4I1~M7n-xdYlgtZ0kDkvoAQZxHYLoVBM4ibQSCzxWV8CpxCnBFD~LPgVWwj2Oe2N2LWXLzzghUCGuC3gZCzAsBnpw89UBabqOkEHpbrS6RV-XtKVNOlpLBRSmlV8wL6jlVNXIPjdbZacgKDrP~qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","Laura Dodds, County Extension Director for Purdue Extension in Marion County, and Rita Blythe, director of operations, presented the cooperative extension’s 2026 budget to the Admin and Finance Committee and described programming and recent changes.

Dodds said Purdue Extension brings university research into the community under four program areas: agriculture and natural resources, health and human sciences, community development and 4-H youth development. The office serves nearly 40,000 residents annually across roughly 386 unique learning experiences and offers about 78% of programs free to the public.

The extension requested a proposed county general-fund operating budget of $969,694 for 2026. Blythe said the increase in character‑3 costs is driven largely by recent changes to ISA chargebacks and that Purdue requests an annual 3% educator-contract increase; she added that if ISA chargebacks are excluded, the total requested spending is actually below the 2025 adopted budget.

Dodds described staffing and equity priorities: the office has four county-supported full‑time positions and nine educator positions funded through Purdue contracts, USDA and grants. The extension pursues grant funding (nutrition education, mental health programs and free tax-preparation services) and estimated total grant revenue for next year at about $172,000.

On volunteer tax assistance, Dodds said the United Way of Central Indiana is transitioning Marion County VITA site coordination to Purdue Extension this year; extension staff said they are working with United Way to ensure a smooth handoff and anticipate leveraging university resources and student volunteers to support sites.

Councilors asked about VITA volunteer recruitment and how the extension will engage students; Dodds said the extension is actively pursuing partnerships with universities and community organizations to recruit volunteers and expand outreach. The presentation noted that the extension invested in professional development for staff and that most facilities are accessible with language services available for registrants who request them.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Administration & Finance Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Purdue Extension officials presented a proposed 2026 budget of $969,694 for Marion County, highlighted free programs serving roughly 40,000 residents annually and said the extension will take over coordination of the VITA volunteer tax-assistance program this season.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6498761,"Marion County Building Authority outlines $36 million property budget, cites efficiency and vendor diversity gains",462,2468890,2931325,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6&start=2468&end=2931","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6/thumbnail_2468890.jpg","/articles/6498761/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Marion-County-Building-Authority-outlines-36-million-property-budget-cites-efficiency-and-vendor-diversity-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498761-d8c26098f945c31f9ecc51d542c62941/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183952&Signature=PtDKPbwJm684CK53Je16IYV-KT1gStDp-Lhoxyg0lDUXXwXf7kcf2JiFlJPpbG-UwEB6V2CLiTliWMprgW1G1DJ9W0W4j5RKroYtcWiU2eZpWy7SuCbbXhDpZioOye~ismBagCWEiieW85IxXGznw7bSVpjgtnANie2TnpsopeRqSkFFikc9xK6cwJs0at0zeEHI~PdTEzo4ETuDCyHxwbBDN7W2ceEZUumi7WjtQ9CK9DVEszhPN1cU2PA4R3gHHsipzGq7KgV~Sa6MKD7PHRVAbSL6LV4ZFqcWh2yYCxnIPbJSGN2JnneEPQJm2doUoL-p9yAEZPFktQ2B73Ig6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark Peterson, general manager for the Marion County Building Authority, presented the authority’s 2026 operating budgets to the Admin and Finance Committee, saying the package covers 23 property budgets and totals just over $36 million.

Peterson said the authority absorbed some expenses for the Denison parking garage operations on behalf of the Office of Finance and Management and added new facilities including the Belmont Waste Garage (about 102,000 square feet, due to open in January), a new animal care facility (about 61,000 sq. ft., opening in 2026) and a larger animal-care site at South Harding. The authority also added the housing hub and a Family Youth Intervention facility at a former juvenile site; the latter will run 24/7 and required budget adjustments.

City-County Building operations (731,000 square feet) were described at an operating cost slightly over $11 per square foot. The authority said the combined adult detention center, Quartz Building and central utility plant operate at about $11.93 per square foot. The authority requested $500,000 in capital-repair dollars from OFM for calendar year 2026 to support major repairs.

Peterson highlighted strategic goals and vendor-diversity results: the authority said it spent more than half a million dollars with XBE vendors this year, achieving 21% spending with minority-owned (MBE) vendors and 9.5% with women-owned (WBE) vendors, increases over the prior year. The authority also reported adding 12% more XBE vendors to its vendor pool.

Operational priorities include bringing building automation controls in-house to reduce reliance on external contractors and lower service costs. Peterson said the authority is pursuing an automation strategy to service more properties on an in-house automation platform, replacing costly third-party contracts.

Committee members raised comfort questions about indoor climate control during the hearing; staff said recent climate-control work and scheduled air-handler adjustments may have affected room temperatures at the meeting and pledged to investigate schedules to reduce overheating during meetings.

Peterson described workforce metrics: the authority employs about 124 people with seven positions open, an internal promotion rate near 30% and an annual turnover rate that has fallen from the mid-30s percent range to about 18.4% in the most recent reporting year. He also noted an apprenticeship program and ongoing compensation and skills-based pay work to retain trades staff.","The Marion County Building Authority presented a multi-property operating budget totaling just over $36 million, highlighted new facilities coming under management, energy and automation projects and increased spending with MBE/WBE vendors.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6498765,"Voter registration office reports 625,938 registered voters, seeks steady 2026 budget",633,1475024,2108790,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6&start=1475&end=2108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6/thumbnail_1475024.jpg","/articles/6498765/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Voter-registration-office-reports-625938-registered-voters-seeks-steady-2026-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498765-fc6bb152acf98e7b13d3b8e41540cf89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183952&Signature=oLKdLBEx~AeRlXbx3kUcBkqAV5VE1Nwe-LaqXoBas~YMvHzDQefiC9kynvDPAdESXPtm3L2cQ2kZZ4hHo~Jx0GadxV8PS~O-NfuHIFRSCkzxuC6GiORNKiaRnds-qh38Zs4lCOZQbR4LHXvJisMk2neuZxvFGE90g2GYpjmgOdIetLqNcRE3ZhE8cxMGGB91xSbOuxdHpDYOV4bTSGodBYbsFpX1mjFi1lO5XlgSjjJ6lLexoztAyjZ0UgwhqEfDZ-J-N0V3B3jILHHRdSQIjTGqVrSKI46ZcTLVHT4R9g747bqpGgYbMFyMYDUH5TvbDcC5N7fBxwSPTYX2OPy2pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alex Norinda, Democratic board member of the Marion County Board of Voter Registration, told the Admin and Finance Committee that the voter-registration office expects its 2026 budget to remain largely consistent, with modest increases tied to salary and benefits.

“Voter registration touched over 130,000 registrations in 2024,” Norinda said, and the office reported 625,938 registered voters as of Aug. 13 — the largest number in the state. The office described a staffing model that includes 12 positions mandated to be bipartisan by statute: two co-director/board-member positions, two chief deputies, four senior analysts and four analysts.

Officials said the office spends substantial time following up on registrations that require correction, processes candidate petitions and supports elections by operating as an auxiliary unit to the Marion County Election Board during early voting and on election day. The office also provides Spanish-language registration materials and partners with community groups to host registration drives; volunteers and staff attend community events, high-school graduations and other outreach venues.

The proposed 2026 budget is fully funded by the county general fund and represents a $63,391 increase from the 2025 budget, staff said. The increase is largely attributable to character-1 personnel costs and benefits. The presentation said character-2 office-supply costs were trimmed slightly and that character-3 professional services will rise modestly because part-time staff for election seasons are hired through a third‑party temp agency and because some storage and service costs increase in election years.

Officials said the state’s SVRS system has been reliable and they did not anticipate state-mandated system changes in the near term. The office also said it pursues grant funding for specific programs (estimated grant revenue of about $172,000 in a related agency’s presentation) and that voter-registration work is largely service oriented with no significant internal revenue streams.

When councilors asked about age breakdowns of registered voters and outreach to high schools, staff said age-specific reports can be pulled from the voter-registration system but were not provided during the hearing. The office said they are developing affirmative outreach to high schools but noted increased school security in recent years can make in-person visits more difficult.","Marion County voter registration officials told the Admin and Finance Committee they handled more than 130,000 registrations in 2024, count 625,938 registered voters as of Aug. 13 and plan to maintain staffing and outreach in 2026; office is fully general-fund supported.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6498771,"Marion County Election Board requests higher general-fund budget, plans new service center",550,39765,590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6&start=39&end=590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602637-1a05c855d015fa1665dc710baeed8ea6/thumbnail_39765.jpg","/articles/6498771/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Marion-County-Election-Board-requests-higher-general-fund-budget-plans-new-service-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498771-a16e354305159b7d510fab07af31efb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183952&Signature=bnNksx-JUOcZ99dqHAo8n9xJUim5ueoS8PoOPk34zLLw7jA1phWIjteodbbG1nzyE9yn~vQE7VBVyGGPgXKBUcI0V546sj-3qNBQSiylB5Hz9GjHruauBT-ClXKklB9QurWwsHmLS66Bko07S2fZYU8mbuSEL2GtqStgiYQ1W3uX1fvjLnPbGFB7mbzUStoaaFCYZYgIclx3DkY2rix4h0RK0WsT8xhU5k7O18dU78NUZZkO7CuStp8Tsp4c~ZruuYgiz0Cl4NKHhdt8fhQ3wOUum3FvzNKNZ1W~2WIfXJDwUVVU1yHdqfCDLhZ0LCcvUMF5aiuZrYe-~yLz5JDVUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell, who serves as secretary of the Marion County Election Board, told the City-County Admin and Finance Committee that the board’s 2026 general-fund budget request reflects rising personnel and operational costs and preparations for a new Election Service Center.

The board is responsible for administering primary, general and special elections in Marion County, Sweeney Bell said. She described duties that include poll-worker recruitment and training, in-person early voting, coordinating military and overseas voting, and campaign finance compliance. “Our board is bipartisan and we are responsible for governing and administering all primary general and special elections in the county,” she said.

The requested budget shows a year-over-year increase in the general fund. Sweeney Bell said some of that increase stems from higher salaries approved last year, including a raise in poll-worker pay from $11 to $15 per hour and higher rates for clerks and inspectors. “They’re worth their weight in gold as far as I’m concerned,” she said of poll workers.

Sweeney Bell outlined other cost pressures: higher rents for a planned move from the current warehouse after 15 years to a “more modern” Election Service Center expected at 3737 East Washington, upgraded security during election season (including 24-hour armed security), vendor logistics, election-day support and project management. She said the new center will include enhanced security features, and that staff had been advised to separate the mail-handling ventilation system for safety reasons.

The presentation noted zeros in special funding lines for 2025 and 2026 and said the office will rely on special funds in election years to pay for projects that require competitive bidding. Sweeney Bell also described recruitment and staffing: the office employs full‑time staff, seasonal workers and poll workers, with seasonal staff coordinating election preparations and poll workers staffing precincts on election day.

Committee members asked about vote-by-mail rules, residency requirements for poll workers and whether expanding early-vote sites is constrained by funding or supply of locations. Sweeney Bell said absentee-by-mail eligibility in Indiana requires an application and that the state maintains central records of approved absentee voters; she added that federal executive orders apply only to federal agencies, not municipalities. On early-vote site expansion, committee members were told that selecting locations is part of a vote center plan and that adoption of that plan requires unanimous approval of the Marion County Election Board before it can be enacted.

Committee members also asked about the proportion of poll workers who return their pay to political parties; Sweeney Bell said some workers do return pay and that money remains in the office budget if not disbursed. She said the office faces ongoing challenges recruiting poll workers and that statutory residency requirements limit the pool; the office has, by unanimous board decision in some instances, allowed out-of-county workers for counting to meet operational needs.

The Election Board presentation concluded with a note on equity in recruitment: staff said they seek poll workers who reflect the community’s diversity but that few election-equipment vendors qualify as XBEs (excluded-business enterprises) and that the office actively seeks vendors and vendors’ bids.","Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell presented the Election Board’s 2026 budget request, citing higher personnel costs after a recent pay increase for poll workers, rising vendor and security costs, and plans to move to a new Election Service Center at 3737 East Washington.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Purdue Extension in Marion County requests $969,694; will administer VITA tax-assistance sites

Marion County Building Authority outlines $36 million property budget, cites efficiency and vendor diversity gains

Voter registration office reports 625,938 registered voters, seeks steady 2026 budget

Marion County Election Board requests higher general-fund budget, plans new service center