Bottom line: Ballard ran as the “public safety” mayor. He cut public safety. Period. Someone explain to me how cutting costs at the jail and the Sheriff is NOT cutting public safety.

Oh, so you say there may be some waste there? We should privatize some things? Maybe.

But are you seriously going to tell me that there’s no waste in IMPD? Here’s one example. FREE take home cars, with FREE gas for EVERY officer, for PERSONAL use.

And are you seriously going to tell me that the Marion County Sheriff is not “public safety”???

One more thing…

Democrats under Bart Peterson didn’t agree with everything that Carl Brizzi did or that Sheriff Cottey did or scores of Republican judges did, but did he go a slash their budgets?

No, because they were public safety.

Bart Flies, you must be on FREE dope.

Bart Flies,
Public Safety is made up of 5 agencies.
IMPD IFD Animal control Weights and Measures and Emergency Management. The sheriff’s dept. is its own entity.

Frank needs to eliminate the take-home cars for all his crony’s who do nothing more than drive to their office each day….in new cars paid for by taxpayers, gas & maintenance paid for by taxpayers, and unlimited off-duty use paid for by taxpayers. Deputies do not provide emergency services in this city, they are not on 24 hour call-out. They merely serve papers & warrants, guard the city government buildings and jail.

Take those cars back. They can drive to work like the rest of us. Frank has no justification for giving all those new luxury take-home cars to his cronys.

Heck, I’d be happy if he limited take-home cars to one apiece…

Hey! Didn’t Frank Anderson save a lot of taxpayer dollars for public safety when his good buddy and personal mentor Jerry McCory got busted for solictation of Prostitutes and was forced to resign!!!! The Mayor’s Public Safety Advisor????
Use that money Frank!

What is interesting is that the Sheriff’s administrators were sworn officers before the merger. They were also responsible for 400 more officers. Now that Anderson has fewer employees and no sworn officers, why are his administrators still making $75,000 – $110,000? Anderson is still installing expensive emergency equipment his fleet vehicles which is an unnecessary cost. Even the inmates, in the jail have TVs and Play Stations. So much waste!

His budget could still be cut more and he would be just fine.

I read somewhere Frank Anderson is the second highers sheriff in America. L.A county sheriff is the highest paid. And what about all those brown Harley Davidson motorcycles with custom paint with the top dogs names on them?

Abbie,

A few questions for the Mayor. How the Mayor cut the budgets for the prosecutors office, public defenders office and the courts (which I assume is probation). On top of 100 fewer officers the city was supposed to get (or not get). But we always have the Lucas Oil Stadium and the supposed new convention center. Maybe you can answer me this. Are the operating costs for the Lucas Stadium and Convention center in this budget? Hmmmmmm

Abbie,

Friendly reminder. Tomorrow is 9/11.

Notice to all blogger’s.
On 911 at 4:00 pm. Be at the Rathskeller for a firefighter tribute to the victims of 911.

Hey Really, all of that was done under the PETERSON administration. What is Ballard supposed to do now? Cut off everything that is his inherited responsibility? It would be nice to cut them off like a lazy adult child, but it just CAN’T happen yet.

Really,

The stadium and convention center are funded by food and beverage taxes. Not the city. The operating budget will have to come from the CIB.

Why doesn’t ANYONE in the media ask the sheriff why his budget request is higher than his last budget. He lost over 600 merit (higher paid) deputies in the “consolidation?”

Why does he need 20 brand new prisoner vans since he just bought new vans in 2007.

How many “merit” deputies are there now?

What is the pay scale for “special,” “building,” and “civil” deputies? Did they get huge raises? Did he hire more to build up his political army?

Why do “building” deputies need take-home vehicles since their police powers are only good while they are at work?

He got $4MILLION dollars for “underbudgeted contract raises and overtime.” Two questions: 1) why was it “underbudgeted” when the terms of the contract were knows two years ago? 2) contract raises were for “merit” deputies, who were all transferred to IMPD under the “consolidation.”

Why? Because the media won’t rock the boat and get to the truth. Instead, they protect the left.

THE SIMPLE FACT IS, THE SHERIFF IS LYING.

Here’s how the numbers work out.

- Anderson spent $26 million in salaries in 2007, but requested $36 million for 2009 (with a much smaller force.
- Anderson spent $44,000 on hospital supplies in 2008, but Anderson requested $1,1 million for ‘09.
- Anderson spent $146,609 on uniforms in 2008, but requested $193,000 in 2009 (with a much smaller force)
- Anderson?s new vehicle budget was $11,000 in 2008; he requested $723,000 in 2009
Anderson spent $114,000 on car repairs an $0 on van repairs in 08, but requested $1.7 million for cars AND $740,000 for vans in 2009.
- Anderson spent $11,000 on printing in 2008, but requested $723,000 in 2009

I hope the mayor’s policy on responding to an attack is better than his policy on economic development. If not, mayor ballard will be a one term mayor. Then tom john will work against the next candidate and take credit for his victory.