INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A bipartisan group of Indianapolis City-County Council members have announced a plan that could create $35 million in funding for preschool scholarships for low-income families.
 
The plan announced Wednesday is an alternative to one that Republican Mayor Greg Ballard proposed over the summer to fight the root causes of violent crime and poverty in the state's largest city.  However, Ballard quickly endorsed the new plan and encouraged the council to approve it so the city can start enrolling children in preschool next year.

The Indianapolis Business Journal reports calls for capturing $15 million in city funds over five years combined with $20 million pledged by private sources. Ballard's plan would have raised $25 million but required the elimination of the homestead tax credit popular among council Democrats.