FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)— Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker and City Controller Garry Morr spoke at a press conference Thursday morning at Citizens Square, outlining the proposed 2025 budget for the city. The budget totals $246.2 million. The city's tax rate will see a 5% reduction. This is the 7th year in a row that the tax rate has decreased. At the press conference, the most emphasis was put on funds for public safety and neighborhood infrastructure improvements. Public safety will use about 70% of the city's budget in 2025. "I'm proud of the fact that our police officers have a clearance rate of 81% for all the crimes that have happened in our community," Mayor Tucker said. "So, being able to invest in making sure our community is safe is very important." Fort Wayne Police Chief Scott Caudill said he's satisfied with the budget and it fits into the department's long term goals. "We are a growing city," Caudill said. "And we have to grow our public safety to match the demands that come with that growth for the city." The Fort Wayne Police Department will keep all 500 of its officers. The department will also add 10 more officers that have been requested through a COPS grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The 2025 budget proposal also allocates $47.7 million to neighborhood infrastructure improvements. Those project are a combined effort through Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and Community Development. That money includes nearly $35 million for streets, roads, and bridges, 47.5 million for sidewalks and alleys, and $2.3 million for trails. "When we talk about growing Fort Wayne, increasing the quality of life for all residents," Tucker said. "We're talking about strategically planning on being in neighborhoods and making sure that we're hearing from those residents. And that's what you'll see in the budget."