INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was hospitalized with chest pains hours before he presented his plan to balance the city's budget, officials said.

Ballard spokesman Marcus Barlow said Tuesday morning that Ballard had been admitted to Community East Hospital Monday around 1:30 p.m. with chest pains and shortness of breath.

Barlow said results from an EKG and a chemically-induced stress test both came back normal. Ballard was released from the hospital around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

It was not revealed that Ballard had been admitted to the hospital until Tuesday morning just before 9 a.m., more than 12 hours after he presented his 2009 budget proposal to the City-County Council. Ballard told 6News' Norman Cox he didn't want anyone to think he was looking for sympathy.

"Really, I've been healthy as a horse forever, so I'm just hitting a bad patch right now," Ballard said Tuesday.

Barlow said Ballard will continue to wear a heart monitor but will keep his normal schedule. Ballard underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee Aug. 6.

"I think it was because it was my first day back (after surgery). And maybe I just, you know, I've been laying down or sitting down for five straight days almost," Ballard said. "So it was a little difficult probably to get out, and I probably just wasn't quite ready for it."

During Monday night's budget presentation, Ballard told the crowd his plan would rescue the city from a $26 million deficit, while creating a $4.8 million surplus instead.

"We will spend less than we did last year and that is a rarity in government," Ballard told the City-County Council.

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Analysis: Capitol WatchBlog: Whose Budget Is It Anyway?

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The $1.3 billion budget proposal includes more money for police and fire departments, while cutting jail, arts and parks operating costs.

Ballard told the crowd his plan would save taxpayers $8 million in administrative costs and another $5 million in saved interest payments, 6News' Tanya Spencer reported.

Indianapolis police would get a $12.6 million boost, including funds earmarked for the hiring of 38 public assistance officers.

The Indianapolis Fire Department would get an additional $7.2 million, while both the Department of Public Works and the Department of Metropolitan Development would receive an extra $4.4 million for improvements to infrastructure and neighborhood improvements, respectively.

The largest proposed cut would slice jail spending by $5.5 million. The goal is to run the Marion County Jail for much less than the current $107 per offender per day, said Ballard spokesman Marcus Barlow.

Democrats called the plan dangerous.

"I don't think they're taking a holistic approach here to public real safety," said City-County Council Minority Leader Joanne Sanders. "We're going to be going backwards as far as I'm concerned."

Ballard's plan would also cut the budget for township assessors by $3 million by consolidating all township assessors into a single county assessor. The measure would have to pass a vote first.

The city parks and arts budget would also be condensed by $3 million.

Director of Indy Parks and Recreation Joseph Wynns said the cuts would likely mean less trash pickup and lawn mowing at the city's 206 parks and would put hiring and planned expansions on hold. He said pool fees would not be increased, but that golf and shelter rental fees might go up modestly.

Ballard's entire budget proposal was available on the city's Web site.

There will be a public hearing on the matter Sept. 8 and the council is expected to vote on the proposed budget Sept. 22.