Let Me Try This Again
Both friend and foe alike are talking about Mayor Greg Ballard’s proposed reduction in the County Option Income Tax from 1.65 to 1.62 percent; an $18 million savings for the taxpayers over the next three years.
Friends say it is a misguided public relations stunt. Foes are taking credit for something they had nothing to do with nor fully understand.
What it is, is giving people back their hard-earned money.
If friends want to complain about something, I suggest they direct their attention towards the Marion County Courts and how they took their portion of the public safety/COIT increase and instead of creating an additional criminal court to alleviate jail overcrowding, the Courts instead created an additional family court. The Courts tackled the jail overcrowding issue through better case management and moving defendants through the chute quicker.
Before foes take credit for something, they should try to understand how the process works. The city could not have adjusted the COIT rate understate law once it was set. However, this is about the levy. When the tax increase originally passed, the legislature had not yet picked up the pre-1977 pensions and child welfare levies. Now they have. With a smaller levy, there can be a smaller rate. In addition, as reported this morning, the state gave counties the authority to reduce their tax rates by 0.03.
Now is a $12 savings per taxpayer a lot? Not really, eventhough I argue the number is bigger because not every person in Marion County pays income taxes. But that small number sends a big message. The message that the Ballard administration is going to be fiscally responsible and return to the taxpayers (the people who pay the bills) as much of their money as possible.
And if my Democratic friends in 2011 are going to run on a platform of more taxes so there can be more spending all I can wonder is what will be Ballard’s big achievements during his second term?
November 15th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Correct me if I am wrong. The COIT increase (under Peterson) was a public safety tax increase that was supposed to be used for several public safety expenses to fight crime. So we don’t need additional funds for an additional 100 police officers? Jail overcrowding? New police cars? Increased fuel expenses?
On another note. I find it funny that when the election ends, the truth about the economic/fiscal health of Indiana government makes the paper. (see Claims draining state jobless fund http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811140427) Now let me think back. A certain governor (and other politicals running) ran a pirate themed political ad, regarding the low unemployment and high number of jobs he/she created during his tenure. If I a reading this article correctly, unemployment benefits have increased, dramatically which in turn represents more people unemployed.. Where did the jobs go? Additionally, I thought our state budget was balanced by the govenor? If that were the case, then why is unemployment insurance fund broke? I think we have been lied too (or have we). Oh well. Whats 4 more years.
November 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
The Unemployment Comp Fund balance was not unknown…it’s been near-broke for months. It has contributions from employers, as well as the state and feds, and the state’s share was under-estimated for the entire biennium. They will get it replenished.
You’re right Abdul. Dems had best get their PR stance ready: this will be a popular cut by the Mayor, and it’s smart.
It isn’t a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it is appreciated.
November 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Advance Indiana, Ogden on Politics, and HFFT are all praising it. I don’t see it as a political stunt. I see it as keeping your word to the people, Abdul.
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Now, how about some sunshine on the CIB, and that dark hole of our money.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Just go ask Mr. Brown and the democrats why they brought this up after the election. They are the ones who pushed for this now they has got it. Better watch what you ask for. Now lets see how many change there veiws on this.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:41 am
>Now is a $12 savings per taxpayer a lot
.
No.
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But it’s **MY** $12.00 and I’ll gladly take it.
November 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Trends matter. Long disconnected from the people and therefore the Constitution; government has primarily exhibited an “ability” to add bureaucratite layers; bloating itself beyond all humane proportion, and behaving therefore inhumanely. Reductions in the morbid girth of government, are therapeutic steps in the cellular, financial health of citizens, whom it’s supposed to represent. Whether they’re aware of it or not, governments are competing for customers, citizens, who want good, transparent, coherent policy, & Constitutionally responsible government.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
A small initial gesture of a desperately needed reality in government. Who elected from the “political class” is trying to do this? GO Colonel Mayor Sir!
November 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Did anyone catch that the CIB gives the arts council 12.5 million per year? That’s OUR money, folks.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:42 am
There is going to be a big scandal one day about the CIB which as far as I can tell answers to nobody, certainly not the taxpayer. Poor as they can be, give me standard government agencies any day, compared to those quasi-state agencies, government sponsored enterprises, and public private partnerships which no one oversees.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Go Melyssa & Tom! CIB/ISC need to be more open in the spirit of the recent city/county budget. The library construction fiasco is an example of the bath the taxpayer can take without sufficient communication and accountability. Where are the publicized minutes, budgets, accounting, and summations of CIB & ISC meetings & transactions? Where is the Indy Star investigation given their reaffirmed desire for local investigative reporting? What ARE the CIB and ISC doing? I’d love to hear my suspicion is mistaken by reading some discernable explanation that affirms our tax dollars are well-managed.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
And Taxpayer don’t forget Indianapolis Downtown Inc! Remember Ted of Hollywood Bar & Filmworks? He knows the dirt on IDI. He’s also accessible and still keeps his eye on Indy.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Yes, Ma’am. That gentleman unleashed 1-2 full pages in the Star on the slow downfall of his business, with enough specificity to not sound completely implausible. There was the name of local lady in the (business zoning?) part of the city, who sounded like bad news.