10:32 PM EST on Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Louisville -- Will having an electronic eye keep you safer in Metro Louisville.

Metro Police want to try the idea in two high crime areas but it comes with a cost.

Now they are a step closer to doing that.

A budget committee of the Metro Council has given a green light to the idea but some members want to make sure police spell out how much they plan to spend.

Cameras are everywhere in our lives.

You probably walk by a security camera everyday and do not even remember that it is there.

Cameras like the ones Trimark uses monitor traffic all over Metro Louisville.

But Metro Police say a camera may also keep an eye on crime and many on th eCouncil agree.

"We are always pleased when we can identify needs that will respond to public safety and safe communities," says Col. Phillip Turner of Metro Police.

Turner spent his Wednesday afternoon again explaining the potential benefit of a pilot camera program for the Oak aand Fourth Street area and 38th and Market.

Th egroup he was talking to the Council's Budget Committee.

A group keen on the idea if you want $300,000, how are you going to spend it.

"$300,000 is a sizable amount of money," says Hal Heiner (R) District 19. "Its important that if a request comes through we ask how is going to be spent."

"We were just making sure the 300,000 is for the smaller pilot program then we can fund the others in the regular budget next year," says Committee Chairman Rick Blackwell. (D) District 12.

Right now, engineers are trying to determine just how many cameras will be needed in coverage of the two neighborhoods.

The Council just wants money details.

"I think everyone is in agreement that we are going to have cameras," says Kelly Downard (R) District 16 "No one knows how much it is going to cost and we keep asking and we were finally promised details on what it would cost."

But police are confident.

"I have all of the research that we have," says Turner. "It will be very easy to draft a response to exactly what the funds will cover."

It is estimated the $300,000 coul dbe as many as 30 cameras as needed.

The full Council is expected to vote a week from Thursday.