WWYGU
What would you give up? That is my question as the City of Indianapolis gets ready to deal with a $26 million budget shortfall. Mayor Greg Ballard says he can restructure some of the shortfall, however there will have to be some cuts.
And while it’s real easy to say what other people should give up or pay more of, I ask you this morning, what are you willing to give up or pay more for to close the gap?
I’ll be awaiting your responses with baited breath.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Who needs to make cuts?
Well, if they haven’t done so already, the City could sell its interest in any Colts luxury suites and other seating.
Charging state legislators for the air they breathe. Or making them pay for carbon credits for the hot air they release into Marion County’s atmosphere.
Making the Monon Trail a Toll Trail.
Using the Convention Center to tax the dickens out of conventioneers and tourists. Oh, wait.
Make jail inmates pay for their own incarceration. That would empty the jails right out.
Dam the White River in southwest Marion County, then start charging Mooresville and Matinsville for “water rights”.
There are just all kinds of ways to stem the revenue shortfall. Just not enough creativity being encouraged at the City-County building in my opinion.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Given the endless hand-wringing & creative math that materializes in prolonged wrangling, some percentage of spending across-the-board short of public safety.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:27 am
It’s time for a wheel tax in this city, like New York. All of those surrounding area residents who drive in to work but don’t want to live in Marion County, but choose to live in Hamilton, Johnson, Boone, Madison, Hancock, Hendricks, and Morgan Counties should pay to drive on our streets and use other city services.
Plans for a regional transportation system are in the works to accomodate these residents. If they don’t have to pay the high cost for gasoline to drive into Indianapolis in their expensive vehicles helps them to save money.
Marion County residents are paying increased local taxes while supporting these citizens who pay taxes into their respective local counties’ fund. This tax would certainly generate and cover some of the increased expenses for the city. Wakeup Mayor Ballard and the city-county council! Enough is enough!
These people don’t want to live or vote in Marion County.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Count the number of out of town license plates in parking lots and garages for sporting events and other activities are numerous and commmon on the backs of vehicles being driven on the streets of Indianapolis and requiring more police for public safety.
July 29th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Guess Who- that is quite an idea and I can see how you would feel that way. Personally, living in Hamilton I would not like such a wheel tax, but can see your point. Fundamentally, however we differ in that I believe we need to look hard at all levels of government where money (through taxes) is being spent and cut any waste or abuse. You propose looking at the other side of the equation by wanting the government to take more of our money, which just perpetuates the cycle of waste or abuse. Perhaps the solution is to look at both sides of the equations.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Why not start with turning the operating budget of the “Snake Oil Stadium” over to Jimmy &co.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I’m just going to assume here, that Varangian’s suggestions are all in jest. I got a good chuckle, at least.
Taxpayer’s suggestion is correct, I think. Public safety should be exempt, but: the excessive numbers of brass should be trimmed. Anyone who thinks the merger created a leaner command structure, doesn’t know the facts. Our LEOs are well-trained and smart. They ndon’t need so many bosses.
If the shortfall is $26 million, I think an across-the-board 4% cut would more than accomplish the goal. Nothing should be exempt: including every single salary on the 25th floor. Olgen Williams’s salary, for what he does, is insane. And there are more.
I’d also like to know: is there a reserve fund at all? Does the general fund include some provision for a savings account?
July 29th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Rugger
You don’t want to live in Marion County and
of course you don’t want to pay. But you do want to drive in and enjoy everything Indianapolis has to offer for free.
Why should my property taxes pay for repairs to curves, sidewalks and increased public safety for you to enjoy and not have to pay for it? Something for nothing while my taxes are being increased. Typical attitude for out-of-county resident
July 29th, 2008 at 8:59 am
rugger, Guess Who is not asking you to pay more for what Marion County provides you. We’re asking you to stop “free riding”. You use our sewers, streets, police, EMT and fire protection all day while you’re here.
Or maybe there should be a residency check for city services. If you don’t have a Marion County drivers license, we won’t restart your heart with our paddles or haul you to the hospital in our ambulances or take your stolen-car report with our cop or public-safety officer.
The same suburban fools who are criticizing “waste” in Indianapolis services are the very ones who benefit from our infrastructure and services every day without paying a dime. That sounds a whole lot like “welfare” to me!
July 29th, 2008 at 9:02 am
To answer Abdul’s question: institute a commuter tax. Make the out-of-county residents pay at least half the county income tax rate to Marion County if they work here.
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Why half? So that they can’t complain about the “wasted half” of county expenditures that they don’t like, and pay only for the services that they “like” and use every day.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Abdul….the problem is not too much spending…Indy has always been historically underfunded. I suggested to Bart when he was elected that revenue enhancement was needed ASAP via a combo of fees and taxes…he fiddled while Indy burned and now we have Mr Ballard probably wishing he never filed for the mayor race. Had Bart instituted well-explained enhancements earlier, we would be a lot better off ow and Bart would be on his third term.
On the personal impact of taxes increase…it’s chump change on local and county taxes, yet it yields the most direct dailybenefits like smooth roads, nice parks, sewers that work, cops that get paid, etc.
I suggest that all of your “just cut spenfding” advocates actually educate themselves on the reality of city finances and actually read the budgets and watch the upcoming hearings, and ponder reality and not rhetoric. Oh, and if you don’t live inside Marion Cty..guess what …your opinion does not count…but I do want to charge you fair market rate for the use of OUR roads, sewers, public spaces, etc.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Well, there is a lot of talk about the city budget, and none of it is any good. How will this affect those of us in EMS. For starters, we see the city tightening the purse strings on everything from overtime, fuel, equipment, take home vehicles (for the higher ups) to staffing.
One area that might rile a few feathers is when they start looking at duplicate services. I know what you are thinking, we really don’t want to go there, but if we have our information right, there may be something to this. Health and Hospital Corporation is mandated to provide EMS service in all of Marion County. That is not to say each fire department is not free to provide it for themselves if they wish, but they are not required to. No where is it written that IFD has to provide ambulances. By operating ambulances, IFD is billing for the service they provide, but by being a fire department, they cannot be a for profit business. So, IFD is running ambulances, eating up a huge piece of the budget, but cannot do better than break even.
Wishard hospital can make a profit, and hold onto that money. The money could also be used to help finance the hospital, therefore decreasing the dollars needed from the city/county to pay for indigent care.
Then there is the billing end. If we are not mistaken, Wishard was granted special status a few years back in a bill, sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), that allowed it to bill medicare/medicaid at a higher rate. We have also heard that Wishard is eligible for certain federal grants for indigent care that the fire department is ineligible to receive.
Lastly, there is the IU School of Medicine. They pump a lot of dollars into Wishard, money that might not be there if EMS was taken over by IFD.
Say what you want, but in times of budget crisis’s, you just never know. Talk all you want about service, hiring, training, response; but when it comes down to it, WAS has been around for a long time and IFD EMS is still very new.
We know there are going to be some upset people over this one, so let us have it. Just remember, keep it clean.
Stay Safe
Dee
July 29th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I would give up Democrats – that should save TONS of money!
July 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Guess Who and Thundermutt,
I can see your point, but by your logic anytime anyone travels through another county, city, or area that they do not live in they should be charged some sort of fee. So anytime you travel outside Marion county you should be charged the same tax as well, after all fair is fair. So where does it end? Additionally, my employer is located in Marion County and believe me they pay property and anytime I come to Indianapolis and “enjoy” everything the city has to offer I pay, via, sales tax, parking, admission to the Zoo, Museums, and whatever else. It appears to me that both of you have the attitude that all individuals who live outside of Marion County are freeloaders and drain the cities resources. Would the city be better off if businessess moved out and those in the metro area never came into town? Take a look at Detroit, and see what happened there. The city and the suburbs in Indianapolis need each other to survive and grow for the betterment of everybody. By the way government waste is prevalent everywhere not just in Indy, and that is what I am critizizing.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thanks for emphasis on duplication and consolidation in post above. I’ve read at least some of the budgets, attended hearings, spoke at the City-County & Township level, and definitely want to “ponder reality versus rhetoric”. However, the most recent state assembly session & observation of the U.S. Congress make it apparent than preliminary debate of any length on spending reduction merely further polarizes, or they think the “solution” is to spend more on all of it! (The last “compromise” housing legislation as an example). Begining the dialog with plan A being across-the-board cuts may bring more fruitful dialog on a plan B.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I don’t understand. My COIT taxes about doubled last year to pay for public safety and yet we’re talking about cutting public safety? Where in the h*** did all the money go? I have four degrees in business, but this city’s accounting is about ready to drive me around the bend!
July 29th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Commuter taxes are bad, bad news. They may provide some short-term benefit, but in the long term, if employees have to pay higher taxes if they commute into Marion County, it will provide an incentive for businesses to locate outside Marion County. I’m a Marion County resident who works in Marion County, so it certainly would have no direct negative effect on me, but I can’t support the idea of charging a Hamilton County resident who works in Marion County higher taxes than a Hamilton County resident who lives in Hamilton County. Now, routing some of the taxes already paid by commuters to their county of work makes sense. Isn’t that already done to some degree? It seems to me that we have list the county code for both home and work on our IT-40s, but since I live/work in the same county I have never paid all that much attention.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Rugger
Marion County residents pay all of the same taxes you have mentioned, however you don’t pay the increased COIT in your county. Move to Marion County since you work here and share the expenses.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I would be willing to pay higher taxes for an improved Pubilc Transportation system.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:15 am
How about administrative rolling blackouts. For 1 month at a time take the operating budget away from the different government entities and apply it to the debt. No one is exempt but public safety. Cancel funding for the arts. Dont get me wrong I enjoy the arts but in a financial crisis they need not be funded. Start taxing these mega churches. Exempt my ass. ie the Russell Foundation. Cancel the fringe benefits of the CC. Its a compensated part time job, so be it. Let Irsay pay for operating expenses for the stadium. They rake in the money, we built the house, they pay the utilities…screw this city and it inept leadership. Ballard needs to get rid of the same old court jesters of peterson. Mr. mayor you profess to be a leader. Then lead follow or get out of the way. I run a home. pay bills and maintain a budget. HELLO spending freeze. Private Public Partnership no thanks. Let business do its own business. UGH its simple but it takes a set to make it happen. C’mon Col. make it happen and take command and leave the lawyers out of it. Maybe you should have put some normal folks on your administration instead of the the usual suspects. Public servants, what a joke.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am
From Jen’s blog (the one she shares with Abdul)
Blasts From The Past: Numbers Confuse Ballard, But These Speak Volumes
The following excerpts are taken from the Indianapolis Star. Perhaps if Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard had read them before promising to cut $70 million in “fluff” from the city budget, he wouldn’t have made that promise in the first place. The budget he inherited has been slashed to the max. Now what?
After being criticized for exaggerating a series of proposed spending cuts, Mayor Bart Peterson has responded with a series of new cuts in virtually every city department.
The mayor’s office announced $9.1 million in cost-saving measures Friday. That figure is significant because it surpasses the $8.7 million in accounting changes that Peterson touted as part of a budget-tightening package last week.
August 2, 2003
Mayor Bart Peterson will propose sweeping changes to city and county government today in a plan that would expand his powers, create a new police force, merge fire departments and abolish most township offices.
The plan, which includes the most comprehensive changes suggested for Indianapolis and Marion County government since the creation of Uni-Gov 34 years ago, is needed to avoid “massive tax increases” and layoffs, Peterson said.
Besides increasing efficiency and making the mayor more accountable, the city estimates the proposal could save local taxpayers $35 million annually — more than 4 percent of all city and county spending.
August 2, 2004
Unveiling a sweeping plan to trim government spending by $28 million, Mayor Bart Peterson announced Wednesday a series of budget cuts that range from reducing the police force to closing city pools early this summer.
For most residents, the changes will be subtle, but the long-term effect could eat deep into the core of the state’s largest city and erode a quality of life that has thrived for decades.
“Some of the shine and some of the polish is going to go off our city,” Peterson said. “It’s going to be a little duller, and it’s going to be a little less nice. If that goes on for four or five years, people start to notice.”
June 30, 2005
“We’re trying to avoid draconian cuts,” city Controller Bob Clifford said. “But the echo effect of this is tremendous.”
Mayor Bart Peterson already ordered $13 million in cuts that will carry through to next year.
Additional cuts will be made with the latest shortfall announcement.
During Peterson’s eight years in office, the city and county budget has gone from $724 million to $1.04 billion, an increase of 44 percent.
Aug. 1, 2007
But Peterson has put most of that increase into crime-fighting efforts. Public safety and criminal justice spending increased 88 percent in the city and county over that period. Other spending under his authority, other than debt service, largely has declined or stayed flat.
Oct. 21, 2007
“There’s fat in there to be cut,” Ballard said. “(Peterson) has a record of putting a lot of taxes on people, and that’s not the way I’d like to do business.”
Nov. 3, 2007
Ballard on Monday declined to reveal any more details about how his budget will make up for lost property tax revenues or fulfill his campaign promise to cut $70 million in “fluff” in three years, aside from spending cuts of nearly $8 million so far this year.
“We’re not looking at stopping what’s already been promised, but we are looking at doing things differently and finding new revenue streams,” Ballard said.
July 29, 2008
m Jen…
July 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Governments “need” more taxes like type 2 diabetics “need” more sugar ladened soft drinks. The answer to meeting budgets and generating more revenue is to get government OUT of the pretend business; real estate development masquerading as business development, “education,” art, transportation, libraries (it’s called a PC, weighs sub 5 lbs & connects to the internet). If citizens want pretend, they can find it & pay for it themselves- government is not entertainment. The mainframe purpose of government is public safety.
Units of government, like the C-Twnp. Ass., holding overcharges described as “surplusses,” should return these dollars to the city’s current budget. Citizens need less not more from government, including LOWER TAXES. The city doesn’t need expensive lobbying services (our Mayor will do just fine) or expanding bond indebtedness (investment grade ventures like equities, exploit free market opportunities rather than people / citizens / taxpayers whose incomes & assets are pledged without appropriate governing consent or disclosure; which amounts to ongoing, systematic, unconstitutional taking.
Anyone think that bond holders will accept returns pegged to our pubic schools’ performance (~70 % fail, ~30% succeed) ? But with its track record & considering current trends, government should remain in the “education” business, huh? That’s “smart” government, right? Surely bond holders would accept those returns since it’s all about the children…
Sovereign citizens don’t need to be Animal Farmed by a public sector bloated beyond its purposeful frame. Inhumanely proportioned, it behaves therefore inhumanely; crushing private interests as it rolls side to side, in the cynical muck of class envy (envy being akin to hatred). No problem exists, for which hatred (albeit in the form of envy), or the exploitation thereof, is a solution.
Give it a few more centuries and roaming empires, “they” will figure it out.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I would ask we commit less crime. Over half of the City’s budget is public safety – then mostly enforcement to incarceration and all points in between. Hamilton County and most surrounding counties have a shiny new tax base without urban ills or a crumbling infrastructure that plays second fiddle to public safety. I say we just be good … more.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Does Indy really need Jeep Cherokees, Tahoe’s, Blazers etc? I understand the need for four wheel drive in the winter but we are using these vehicle year round.
If cheaper fuel-efficient midsize automobiles were used the city would save in the long run.
I understand that this would be a drop in the bucket but it would add up.
Every department can find waste. The Mayor needs to bypass department heads and talk to the rank and file they know what’s needed and what isn’t.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:34 am
The City needs to go after bad debts, like Monroe Gray! Sue him for the salary & expenses he ran up as a Ghost Employee….I believe racketeering laws as well as the Ghost Employment law allow for civil actions to recover loss.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:36 am
…and if the city wants to pay for services, have the State force that multimillion dollar tax paid surplus improperly held by the Center Twp Trustee into the City general fund!
July 29th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Eliminate township government and consolidate county-level administrative offices (assessor, clerk, et al) as in the Kernan-Shepard plan…push for ‘payments in leiu of taxes’ from the state for tax-exempt state properties within Marion County.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Given the city’s budget shortfall, why the heck is the city paying for a “Chinese Festival” in September?
Let the Chinese pay for it!
July 29th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Personally, I would give up the money we spend on lawyers harassing citizens for alleged zoning violations.
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I’d also give up the arts funding…and I am an arts patron! I just dont want the city choosing which arts and artists to spend my money on. I’d rather hand over my money directly to artists. If we keep going in this direction, I’m not going to have extra money to buy art.
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And finally, I’m fine giving up the CIB since they seem to be costing us plenty.
July 29th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Oh…and one other thing. I think we need to start leasing (or selling) our real estate assets. That means somebody is gonna have to find a new place to park his corvettes.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I have heard that the $1.5M annual arts expenditure will be phased out by $500k per year starting next year…
July 29th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Oh and another place to cut. School administrators. Most folks don’t realize that Washington Township has one administrator for every three classrooms. Does anyone know how many administrators we have for each classroom in IPS? A friend of mine, just out of college, taught in IPS. His job was a living hell because of the many administrators who basically did nothing except butt in and make it hard for him to teach.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Mel & whomever: If you want more taxpayer data re administators and public school spending in general, NOW is an excellent to let the local newspaper know. The editor has a renewed soliciation for investigative reporting.
July 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
…renewed solicitation…
July 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Taxpayer, I’ve been emailing with Dennis Ryerson, the Indy Star’s publisher about the property tax issue and his commitment to use every resource at his disposal to get to the bottom of it. Even though I spoon feed him answers and people for his reporters to talk with, he doesn’t think the fact that homeowners are being ignored who filed notorized documents requesting a refund of taxes collected in violation of the Indiana Constitution.
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You think he’ll help us get a few school administrators fired? Most of the school administrators make more than $100k a year. For comparison, the governor earns just $98k a year.
July 29th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
My quick thoughts. I preface this by the fact I no longer live in Marion county but still own property there and spend as much time there as I can. I love Indy! First township government needs to be consolidated in Marion County and all over the state for that matter. It’s outdated and costs a fortune. And all township property sold. Then they have to look at city and county government and make the tough cuts in payrolls. Combine job duties where you can, give one person a 25% raise and cut the other position. We have to do it in business everyday to survive. We are all doing more then we were in the past. What about selling Marion County Health and Hospital to a private entity. Not a puplic/private but a sale of the management company and long term leases on the buildings? Someone needs to take a long look at health and hospital as I doubt most folks in Marion county know that they the taxpayers own and operate nursing homes all over the state. Do they need to spend tax money on an enterprise that is taken care of by business’s all over the state? Cut it loose. Then they need to cap the tax exempt status of all not for profits in Marion County at $5 million in real estate. They then pay full property taxes on all value over $5 million and exclude pools, golf courses and other recreation facilites owned by the not for profits. You also have to look at every line item of the budget and make tough calls. I have not looked at the budget yet but those are some options off the top of my head. Then if the money is still not there then to even the playing field let’s make 465 a toll road like Orlando has. But all Marion county residents get one of those free electronic pass’s while all outside the county have to pay the fee’s. I am sure there are all kinds of issues there..but an idea that could shore up the budget and force funding for transit.
Peace
July 29th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Even though I spoon feed Ryerson answers and people for his reporters to talk with, he doesn’t deem it newsworthy that homeowners are being ignored who filed notorized documents requesting a refund of property tax collected in violation of the Indiana Constitution.
July 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
BigDawg, I can think of a few low level office clerk employees with snotty attitudes that I personally would not mind firing. Does Ballard need an ax lady?
July 29th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
So many posts, so little time…
I’m puzzled why there is a need for ANY EMS Supervisor to have a take-home vehicle. It’s vitally important for the ambulance to get to an emergency. It’s much less important that the EMS Supervisor get to an emergency.
School Administrators: I’m with you when you’re right, dear Melyssa, but here’s a few clarifying thoughts: “Administrators” include school psychologists, physical therapists, deaf interpreters, or anyone in the central office not classified as a clerical person. And few of them make more than $100,000. You’re 50% right on this one.
Township Trustee Free Storage Space: Melyssa is 200% correct here, but the trustee’s budget, as our good friend Wilson points out, is a small portion of our overall tax bill, and completely outside the purview of the Mayor. How the hell do you think Drummer bullied Peterson all those years? (I could tell you stories that would curl your toes) Peterson couldn’t touch his budget! Blow the trustees up, and we’ll save a few dollars a year, and their miserable existence will be supplemented by another layer of government that couldn’t possibly spend $1.40 to deliver every $1 of poor relief. But Mayor Ballard can’t do a damned thing about the lousy trustee system–it’s legislatively created, and there’s no way the legislature will take it away. So sad.
And, although I agree that the city lawyers were way too harsh on Melyssa for her zoning violation (which it was), I’d favor more money being put into code enforcement and proper zoning decisions. The ones made by Judy Conley, another person of whom Peterson was evidently afraid (or more accurately, her husband, for reasons I can’t figure out), have now become precedent.
Judy Conley’s stupid zoning decisions now being “defended” by city lawyers in zoning disputes, because they are now precedent. Now that’s government at its worst.
Thankfully, both Conleys and their leather pants are off the public payroll, and we’re safe from any more of their decision-making.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
The bottom line is that we just need to take the hit and cut the budgets across the board – including public safety. If the city followed the trend in towns like Kennesaw, GA and in countries like Switzerland, they would make gun ownership mandatory. And crime would drop like a rock. It would probably be the most cost-effective public safety ordinance ever written in Marion County.
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With the Fed continuing it’s rampant inflation and with the continued decline of the dollar, costs are only going to get higher for the city and for residents. That’s simply a fact of globalization – our economy is being shifted towards economic parity with most of the rest of the world, where incomes are lower and our lifestyles are unsustainable.
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We’re now feeling it at the municipal level. The only solution is to cut services. You don’t see street lights and paved roads at every intersection in Mexico. We need to stop expecting it here as well. Our economic policy won’t allow it, so we need to stop expecting it.
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Either that, or find a government who believes in a strong, sovereign US economy – but we all know that only revolution will bring that back.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
From the 2008 budget
IFD Pension Office $40,946,300
40 million to run a pension fund ?
July 29th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
If you’re getting closer to buying a gun, more security lights, maybe changing your investments (again), you might consider this: Are you happy with how your government treats you and your tax dollars? Think things are just peachy when it comes to our immigration policy, property taxes, sports stadiums, and single motherhood as a lifestyle choice? If you’re a reader of this blog, you might already be a semi-activist. But, we dearly need the participation of your friends and neighbors: writing, calling, voting, volunteering, rallying, etc. We can’t make everything, as I couldn’t make City-Council last night. But, with more enlistments, we can make more headway. I’ve got five guys myself, I need to call before going to the next meeting or rally. We don’t agree on everything, but I’m finding out we agree on a lot.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
It seems like such a trauma for some of Indy’s residents to deal with suburbanites such as myself coming into your city, that I’m going to do y’all a favor. I’ll stay out for a while. No sense in me straining your infrastructure taking to an Indy restuarant. I’m just a freeloader when I spend my money in your city.
Now, I’m not going to take the same attitude as you. Please come to my county, Hamilton, and strain our infrastructure at our restaurants. Buy gas and snacks. Visit Connor Prairie. Have a blast. We’ll deal with funding our roads and sewers and safety forces, with only ‘thank yous’ and ‘come agains’.
If you want to be snotty, please enact some of the anti-suburbanite ideas thrown around here. See if Marion County is better off for it, or if it doesn’t slide entirely into the abyss.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Shorebreak….David Myers is calling for a rally against violence among our ranks. I say we join him and send a strong message that homeowners are armed, know the rule of law, and WILL defend our family, friends, and property.
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I’ll be at this rally on August 23rd or its rain date on the 30th!
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KUDOS, David, for calling this much needed citizen action.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
First off, I’ll give up all the “benefits” from funding for the arts. This is simply not a function of government. If the free market wants the arts to succeed in the Indianapolis area (and Carmel is falling all over itself to make this happen), let viable business entities be such. Also let the non-viable business entities disappear. Not a dime of my taxpayer money should go to subsidizing artists, or buying “sculptures” from people who couldn’t make it otherwise.
Secondly, I am willing to give up the “safety benefits” gleaned from speed enforcement. Go ahead and sell the radar guns, and take the police force needed for said duty and have them out fighting crime. People are dying in the streets, but it’s not because someone was doing 10 over.
I am also willing to give up the massive landscaping that is seemingly required in every Hamilton County roundabout. Not only is it superfluous, it cuts down visibility.
I am willing to do without public schools (or, as Neal Boortz calls them, “government schools”), in favor of an all-private system, to be paid for by the people whose children are actually enrolled in the schools. You want property tax relief? Here you go. Yes, I realize that there would need to be a system of grants, loans, and scholarships available. The aid would be tied to academic performance, to encourage people to break the cycle of poverty, which is overwhelmigly caused by a lack of education.
Additionally, I am willing to give up anything that the Kernan-Shepard recommendations suggested being cut. Township governments, goodbye, and good riddance.
And lastly, I am extremely willing to do without the bloated US tax code, in favor of the Fair Tax proposal put forth by Linder, et al.
I’d love to talk about benefits for illegals and welfare, but I’ve never gotten a dime from either, so I’m not qualified to give that up.
I realize that much of this goes well beyond Indianapolis proper, but there is government spending everywhere that could be cut.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:01 am
I think we can start with Mr. Olgin, We ain’t got nuthin for noboby cept my chil’ren, Williams. Put his salary back into the kitty because ‘we aint feeling him and certainly don’t understand a darn thing he’s saying’.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:11 am
Snark you said:
Given the city’s budget shortfall, why the heck is the city paying for a “Chinese Festival” in September?
Let the Chinese pay for it!
Response:
Haven’t you heard? Ballard is diversifying diversity; the chinese are the PREFERRED minority, to hell with the blacks and the hispanic, unless they are uneducated and are servantile. Those trips by the administration to China are expensive too…
July 30th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Well, I don’t have the answer but here is something for everyone to think about. What service do you really use besides the police, fire and street department from the city or State. I really can not think of any of these “services” that the city offers that I really use on a day to day bases. You?
July 30th, 2008 at 6:54 am
IRoc hits a home run! Amen!
And Mike, don’t even begin with the “snotty” diatribe if you live north of 96th St. Brainard & Co. have that word all wrapped up. Look in the dictionary. There’s his fat little munchkin face, right beside “snotty.”
Mike doesn’t seem to understand a couple of basics:
Every capital city has unique demands on its infrastructure. The headquarters of state government is here. Carmel and Greenwood folks need to come here from time to time to conduct business out of necessity. Not to mention that Gang of 150 Idiots that converges with their lobbyist lunches every year.
It’s an imperfect world, Mike, but the dollars you spend on restaurants within 465 are dollars you choose to spend. The symphony, baseball, football and basketball teams, the region’s finest art museum, they’re all inside 465. The roads you use on a daily basis, if you work here, and the added infrastructure required for that…clearly and logically qualify for a wheel tax or something similar.
Get over your damned self already. We put up with the Carmel snottiness 24/7/365. Hell they’ve got cameras on their light poles to monitor south-to-north movements. Lest we soil their fair white city on a hill.
Puh-leeeeeze.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:45 am
What Think Again said.
(Not to mention the region’s finest hospitals, the state’s main graduate-level university campus, its regional community college campus, the state fairgrounds, the state schools for the deaf and blind, The Children’s Museum, White River and Fort Ben State Parks, Indiana Blood Center, the United Way, Community Action, the seats of the Catholic and Episcopalian bishops, a plethora of civic memorials and monuments, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Realtors, Salvation Army, the Scottish Rite Cathedral…)
It’s no wonder 45% of Center Township is off the tax rolls. We’re carrying the rest of Central Indiana with “free” property taxes for the region’s service, educational, health-care, and sports organizations.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Thanks, Thundermutt.
I detest generalizations. But, too many Carmelites and Greenwooders think all that state govt. and infrastcuture is free to them. More burden is placed on Marion Co.
I once lived in Brown County. Those poor soulds cannot attract industry, and the state park there is the nation’s most-popular state park. About two-thirds of the land in that county is state or federal parks. Untaxable. They had a hell of a time raising sufficient funds for schools, county roads, etc. Because all of us love to go down and visit the beautiful parks and the tacky shops.
We’re no longer a county-only govt. region. As we grow and stratify, regional governmenmt solutions can make perfect economic sense.
Case in point: if Hancock County, for instance, needs a new jail at $40 million, why can’t they band together with one or two other counties and build a new jail on a county line, say, with Rush County or something?
We’re far too parochial with our local govt. decisions. We need to think more globally, and savings can follow.
Ergo township govt. Completely useless and without merit. Their essential functions can easily be folded into another existing layer of govt., and improved at a cheaper cost.
But we’re stepping on precious toes, huh?
July 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
The amount of tax-exempt ‘industry’ in the city is astounding:
http://www.taxexemptworld.com
Their website seems to be having difficulties today (very slow) but just in Indianapolis there are over 600 pages of organizations listed, with billions in income and assets being shielded from taxation. Tens of billions!
July 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
There are 2 things I wish the city would do:
1. Make more cuts to the budget, except for public safety.
2. Create additional fines for minor infractions.
Here are some examples:
Parking illegally in a handicap spot – $500
Smoking right outside an intrance to a public building – $25 (Smokers can move 5 feet away from the door, so I can walk in without having to deal with their smoke.)
Fine minors or the parents if they are out past curfew – $100
I agree with Think Again. Township government needs to be abolished.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Did anybody actually look over the summary of the proposed budget? Offhand, I’m not pleased with the increases for the Election Board, the Clerk’s office and the County Assessor. There ought to be penalties for underperforming, not budget increases.
And, has anybody even asked just how throwing more money at something is actually improving anything? More money for Public Safety? OK. What for and why?!! Better not be for changing uniform styles or increased traffic patrols or further subsidies of take home cars. And there better be some attention paid to the automatic raises being given via the increased costs to the City in fuel prices. And what’s up with the increases for forensics? Anybody have any data on how that is being helpful?
Plenty of questions, but nobody in charge is going to be asking them or answering them.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Excellent observations, Varangiangaurd.
.
Election Board = control of election results. “Lets throw them some money!”
.
Clerk = Management of elections. “Lets throw her some money!!!”
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County Assessor = those folks tax the people and give us more money to spend. “Let’s throw them some money!”
.
“That way, we (Dem & GOP Party) stay in control, and we keep the money flowing. It’s a good plan.”
- Official government representative.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I seem to recall the city is subsidizing curbside recycling. I used to pay six dollars a month, but I found that I could easily throw the recyclables in the car since I am always driving by one of the big green bins (BGBs?). Could the city stop subsidizing that and put more BGBs out there?
Also – could the city, on its own, eliminate setting up polls for primary elections? Let the parties spend their own %^&$%^& money on mail-in ballots. Move the school board elections and any other real election items to the fall.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:44 am
Go to the front of the line, Brett.
Increasing fines is an excellent idea. Here’s one way we could balance the budget overnight:
Fine smokers who throw their cig butts out of car windows or on the ground. Completely obnoxious, and out of control. At $50 a pop, we could retire all city debt in a year.
As for Kevin’s question, I wasn’t aware we were subsidizing recycling. Does anyone know if that’s true? If we are we’re doing a half-assed job of it, so we should either increase the subsidy or stop it already.
The clerk and election board probably need more money because they expect more folks will start voting. That would require more money.
I’d hate to disincentivize voting.
And she’s performed excellently since that first fiasco. Best ever.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:47 am
Hate to say we told you so, but….
July 31st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Varagianguard is right. No more money for public safety until they put their own house in order, reprioritize and explain just what and how much money is being spent on things now. I just saw where the state boys recently got some new high powered mustangs to catch speeders. Now was that really necessary and just how many miles per gallon do those vehicles burn up, especially when you run them flat out? Those go home, too? Nice gig if you can get it, and a lot more fun than policing high crime areas.
Go to a school voucher system and sell those monolithic schools to mall developers. The privates do a much better job at a fraction of the cost. They don’t overtax the juvy system either. Those unnecessary layers of overpriced administrators will disappear overnight. Privates get by without buses, whole staffs that do nothing but order toilet paper (some poor vice principal or office worker gets stuck doing that as part of their normal duties at the privates and probably gets stuck installing the stuff, too), and they don’t need a mini police force on site either. Those cops are then freed up to do something besides busting kids for nuisance behavior and then passing them off to an already overtaxed judicial system. Before someone jumps my case about that remark, the Star ran an article which chronicled pretty well the exhorbitant suspension rates of the schools. If these kids are that bad, you’d see them at juvy over the summer, which you don’t.
There are also NO AGENCIES at any level of government that don’t waste money. Cutting budgets is an inconvenience to them, not an impediment to providing the same crummy, expensive and usually unresponsive service we’ve become accustomed to receiving. We already know our phone calls either won’t be answered and that we’ll get the run around if they are. Now let’s have a budget that matches the quality of services received.
Oh, and let’s be sure to criminalize smoking too close to a public door and inappropriately discarding butts (usually because there is no place to put them) to raise more money. I already envision the establishment of whole new agencies at the state, county and local levels to administer these offenses. Let’s see, we’ll need officers to do the ticketing, a staff to process the tickets, a bunch of political hacks to oversee everything and waste any excess monies that may be generated, and a small judicial system to hear the challenged violations. Don’t we already have enough government devoted to enforcing laws we don’t need that end up costing more money than they ever generate for the “public good”?
August 1st, 2008 at 4:08 pm
According to the Star, roughly $8.5 million is interest on a loan the city was FORCED to take due to the fact that Gov. Mitch Daniels FORCED property tax RE-assessments and subsequently delayed payments from the state to the city. I would go after Daniels for the interest on that loan. Didn’t Ballard say he would be cutting $70 million from the budget? Also, the merger of the sheriff and police is saving how much a year? Bart Lies, Greg Lies, THEY ALL LIE.