It is dishonest to pretend that the tax dollars that are being funnelled to the CIB isn't taking money away from other city and state needs.

The real problem with governmental “capitals” is their monumental edifices are tax-exempt. Millions that would otherwise be on the tax roles, are not. Yet, the persons who occupy those buldings reuqire the streets, roads, sidewalks, fire, ambulance, police, public works, etc., that their operators pay nothing for…

In Brown County, for instance, a huge chunk of the land is tax-exempt–state and federal lands used for recreational purposes. That county houses America's most-popular state park, and the stress placed on local infrastructure is great. Sure, they benefit from it, but disproportionately.

Their school system has been God-awful for decades–a mess. It was taken over by the state for e brief period in the 80s. They have a hard time raising the needed funds because so much land is tax-exempt.

Mitch's school budget plan shuld help them. But it is way late.

Multiply that scenario over multiple infrastructure budgets for the City of Indianapolis, caused by state use without proportional payments.

Borders create interesting problems, don't they?

Every capital, from DC to each of the 50 states, has unique needs, services and projects which cannot and are not carried out in the “outlands.” Admittedly, support of pro sport teams pushes that envelope.

But the expense for extra duties assigned to capitals, are often not picked up by the appropriate taxing unit. When local governments don't get all their capital-related expenses paid, it bleeds into other areas. Again, the pro sports team thing…well, that's not contemplated in this thought process, but you get the point.

This non-Indy legislative pandering has been going on for years. It won't stop soon. Republicans fanned it exhaustively during the Bayh and O'Bannon administrations.

Your observation is poignant, Abdul, but tardy. And hardly unique.

Awesome.

You are the last person to talk about what someone doesn't understand. I will gladly argue that money generated from downtown should be used for Indy needs first and let these other small counties pay for their own projects out of their own county coffers.

Speaking of which, what are doing reading this blog, much less posting here? I thought I had no credibility?

You obviously don't understand where the CIB got the money for its state bailout last year, which ultimately paid for the Pacers give-away. The sports tax district area was expanded to divert tens of millions of state income and sales tax dollars from the state's general fund to the CIB.