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Council Reacts to Ballard Budget

Democrats seemed skeptical, Republicans somewhat supportive of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s budget that closes a $65 million gap with cuts to public safety, dips into reserves and eliminates a local homestead tax credit for property tax payers.

City Council President Maggie Lewis said she wanted more details but thought the Mayor should have been more transparent.  The Democrats also said they were concerned with cuts to public safety and said the Mayor’s office was working with bad numbers saying it was off by about $14 million.

Minority Leader Mike McQuillen said he understands the city is in a tough spot and the Mayor is making the city live within in its means however he says the GOP will demand every ounce of fat be taken out of the budget before asking the taxpayers for more money.

You can both sides below.  The Democrats news conference runs about 13 minutes.  McQuillen’s comments run about five.

Leon-Tailored Interview – Democratic Reaction to Ballard Budget

Leon-Tailored Interview – Republican Reaction to Ballard Budget

Posted: 08|14|12 at 8:33 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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  • M Theory

    I don’t care if Ballard is only tapping a 10 cent increase in our property taxes.  He needs to back off.  He has no trouble finding seemingly unlimited money to GIVE to private developers.  He needs to leave our property alone!  PERIOD!  

    The tax activists worked day and night to get him elected in 2007.  He should have more respect for the people who put him where he is. 

  • Pauldivine3000

    I have taken the liberty of writing a real news story, but as you can see, I changed the name of the real player.

    Here’s my question:  How would Abdul have reacted if this story came out in 2007?

    “Mayor Bart Peterson’s city budget unveiled today makes deep cuts to public safety — including officers, firefighters and deputies, while also eliminating a property tax credit that could hike taxes on hundreds of Indianapolis homeowners.

    The timing is ironic for Peterson, since last week he gave 18% pay increases to his top aides — Deputy Mayors John Dillon, Melina Kennedy and Mike O’Connor and three others.  Peterson said his budget was lower than last year, so actually he is spending less.

    “These folks could make tons more money elsewhere, but we wanted the best and brightest,” Peterson said.

    Meanwhile, Peterson’s budget does nothing to add police officers, even though IMPD is about 200 officers short and overall crime is up this year.  Peterson ran for mayor as the “Public Safety Mayor,” and also promised that this city would never host a Super Bowl until IMPD hired more officers.

    Peterson also plug a hole in his budget by eliminating a property tax credit that could hike  tax bills for hundreds of homeowners.  This is ironic, his critics say, since he was swept into to office five years ago by promising to never raise taxes.”

  • Guest1

    Its PROPERTY TAX CAPS CAUSING THIS…The sad part is that Ballard still does not understand the fundamental issue regarding public financing.  Why is there a $65 million dollar shortfall?  Ballard clearly skirts the issue and blames the recession.  I hate to tell you this, but official government statistics and economic data/experts have stated that the recession began in 2007.  Why has the recession impacting Indy now and lets say, 2010?  Granted, the recession has caused a dip in dollars, the major financing of cities, libraries and schools have diminished substantially due to property tax caps.  Mr. Daniels and the legislatre are directly to blame for this.  However, Ballad has done some creative budgeting/financing of his own.  Where has the money gone for the following.  $152 million in Super Bowl money?  Money from the sale of the Water Company?  Money from the sale of the parking meters? Money saved from the merger of IPD and Marion Count Sheriff and IFD mergers with township fire departments? Reduction in manpower within IMPD and IFD? Money saved by shifting MarionCounty juvenile committments to the State DOC budget? What about the first veto Ballard made.  His veto was the COIT tax that Peterson Administration approved to pay for police/fire and anticipated tax caps?   What about expenditures.  2 new IFD firehouses totalling $9 million dollars, raises for your executive staff, new bike lanes, sidewalks and streets (a large number improvemens in Pike Township, homebase of the Mayor -another story).   

  • Ramon

    Yes,  Ballard now wants to build a $13 million garage on Mass Ave and then GIVE it to a private company to own and operate and keep all of the profits.  Just like Broad Ripple.

  • Guest

    So did Peterson give his proposals for his budgets to the CCC before he presented it.  Just another example of the Democrat Machine Hypocrisy alive and well.  Just another reason there should not be a two party system in local government.