I’m compiling a list of local government entities across Indiana that provide health insurance or other benefits to their part-time board members.  If you could be so kind as to let me know if your school district, township board, etc., offers its members taxpayer-funded health insurance that would be great. Thanks.

Capping property assessments could become the big “sleeper” issue in this session of the Indiana General Assembly.  Already there is Senate Bill 40, which would cap assessments at 5% of a home’s value over the previous year unless there was a sale or other improvements which clearly showed the home had increased in value. Now […]

It’s no big secret that I’m a big fan of government consolidation and property tax caps.  I think if done properly there is more efficiency, accountability and eventually savings.  It’s good for political parties because there are now fewer offices to fight for and they can make better use of their resources. I am not […]

For the people who are opposed to government restructuring and reform, let me ask you three questions? Are you defending the school district in Southern Indiana where the school board voted to give itself the same taxpayer-funded health insurance its teachers and administrators have? Are you defending the Mayor of one of the largest cities […]

Legislation has been introduced in the Indiana Senate that would have school start after Labor Day and end by mid-June. I have never been a big fan of school starting before Labor Day and now with ISTEP taking place in the Spring I can’t think of any real, logical reason for school to start in […]

I’ve known about this for a while and now it’s official, the City of Indianapolis is stepping up its efforts to crack down on panhandlers.  It’s going to ask the Legislature to pass a law restricting where panhandlers can beg for change;  including banning panhandling  within 25 feet of any ATM or active parking meter. […]

Indiana Lawmakers continue to chime in on the state’s current budget situation.  Here are some of their positions.. Republican State Senator Luke Kenley While he opposes tapping into the state’s savings account, the real wild card in all this the federal economic stimulus package.  He says the stimulus could create another dynamic however lawmakers need […]

For anyone who thinks tax caps are still a bad idea, allow me to share this bit of information with you. Monday was a meeting of the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board, it’s the body that allows local governments to raise their property tax caps if they can prove a sufficient enough hardship case. Get […]

Although Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and House Speaker Pat Bauer aren’t married, you would think the upcoming debate in the General Assembly over what to do with the state’s budget surplus sounded like a dispute married couples have during hard times. Do we dip into the savings account now or later to make ends meet, […]

A new poll by Ball State University shows Hoosiers don’t have much faith in local government.   The poll by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs shows 67 percent of Hoosiers want government to run more efficiently.  In addition the poll showed Hoosiers were willing to pay more for services, but only if the money […]