INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a local income tax increase toward hiring more police officers as the city has faced a troubling jump in the number of homicides this year.

The council voted 19-10 Monday night to raise $29 million a year by increasing the city's public safety income tax rate to 0.5 percent from 0.35 percent. City officials say much of that money would pay for adding 150 officers by the end of 2018.

Republican Mayor Greg Ballard says the funding plan falls $2.5 million a year short of what he requested for the police department.

The Democratic-controlled council is considering separately Ballard's proposal to eliminate Marion County's homestead property tax credit to give $5 million a year for expanding preschool access for low-income families.