Fort Wayne cutting money for new police cars

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — City officials in Fort Wayne are dropping plans to buy nearly 90 new police cars and won't hire state and federal lobbyists next year in budget-cutting moves.

Police Chief Rusty York told City Council members on Wednesday that the department won't be buying take-home vehicles for about 12 newer officers. York says the department can go a year without replacing vehicles, which The Journal Gazette reports will save about $3.4 million.

The city will also drop about $160,000 budgeted for next year to hire lobbying firms to represent it in Indianapolis and Washington.

Councilwoman Karen Goldner says the decision to eliminate those expenses doesn't mean they are wasteful, but choices must be made when revenues shrink.