City of Lawrence Budgetary Blows Continue — Mark Your Calendar for January 5

Written By Admin Indy Republicans

Friday, December 19, 2025

City of Lawrence Budgetary Blows Continue

Budget chaos in Mayor Deb Whitfield's City of Lawrence continued this week after her administration published a notice seeking $4.5 million in additional appropriations for 2025 – another glaring example of financial mismanagement and poor oversight.

According to Mirror Indy, the administration later claimed the city is actually seeking $828,000 across four funds. City Controller Terri Leah Falker admitted the inflated figure was published before a full financial review, simply to meet a legal notice deadline.

Stewarding taxpayer dollars, meeting deadlines, and being transparent are basic responsibilities of elected leadership. Releasing a multi-million-dollar budget notice without accurate numbers is not just a paperwork error; it’s a leadership failure. 

This, on top of the fact that Whitfield has failed these basic tenets on multiple occasions, proves she’s not fit to lead the City of Lawrence. 

The administration framed this as a procedural issue, however, this raises serious questions about financial planning and transparency. These costs should have been anticipated during the original budgeting process.

$4.5 million is a gross miscalculation and Lawrence residents should demand better of the elected leaders who steward their hard-earned dollars. 

Read more in Mirror Indy and more about Mayor Whitfield’s chaos HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE or HERE. 

Reminder: Save the Date January 5, 2026

Please join us January 5, 2026 for the annual Indy GOP Legislative Update Breakfast with special guests Speaker Todd Huston and Pro-Tem Rodric Bray. 

Smart Indy Toy Drive

This Wednesday, Smart Indy partnered with Firefly Family Alliance to host a holiday toy drive. The event was a success! Thanks to Councilor Michael Paul-Hart and Josh Bain for their efforts to invest in our community.

February 4: Join Washington Township for their Lincoln Day Dinner

Save the date for the Washington Township GOP Lincoln Day Dinner on Wednesday, February 4th! Get your tickets today ––> TICKETS HERE.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 10 @ 6:30 PM: Virtual Kickoff, Community Engagement Committee

Wednesday, February 4, 2026: Washington Township Lincoln Day Dinner 

  • Purchase Tickets: [HERE]

Friday-Saturday, February 20-21, 2026: Indiana GOP Congress of Counties

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