We agree

A column in yesterday’s morning paper (6/28/11), carried this headline.  "We have to make safety on the Monon a priority."   At our age, we thought for a moment the subject was a train rather than a trail!  But, no question about it.  Users of this recreational facility should be free from being mugged while going about their business - or pleasure.

BUT...when is media going to start raising some question about how the taxpayers are getting mugged by government?  Over and over we see stories in the papers which are questionable, but nobody is asking.  Are the keyboards missing the question marks?

We understand the difference between an editorial position and straight news reporting.  We frequently differ with editorial positions, but everyone has an opinion, even though the editorial page sometimes seems to have ignored the front page.

In looking back over a few days of print, we found this situation.  Both articles cited were published under the date of June 20, 2011.

The daily paper carried an editorial by the governor with the headline, "We’re reaping benefits of sports investments."  (When are they going to start saying "expenditure" rather than "investment?")  The Guv cites state tax revenues of millions of tax dollars.  He doesn't say whether that allows for all the special dispensations and allowances.  Nor does he mention the billion dollar plus debt he helped load on the city to build a football field.

And we wonder if there is communication between the Statehouse and the City-County Building.  The same issue of the weekly paper carries a story headed, "Showdown looming on county income tax."  With reference to adequate funding for public libraries and IndyGo, we find a quote from the president of the City-County Council as follows.  "We have more people competing for a smaller pot now." (Our emphasis,)

How can this be?  According to all the reports for the last few decades, we’ve had "economic development" coming out our ears.  After 30-40 years, with billions of dollars worth of "investments," how can "the pot" possibly be getting smaller?

Downtown is a three-ring circus compared to the dark spot it used to be - so we’re told.  Economic activity is unbelievable - we’re told.  (Well, maybe the use of "un" makes that one true!  After all, the departure of Nordstrom is one kind of indicator.)  Bars and restaurants are getting filthy rich - we’re told.  Of course there is a little "blip" in the road caused by the $10 million per year we’re paying the basketball team to use our facility.  Or is that enough of a blip to wipe out the pot?

Salt is rubbed in the (mugging) wounds with the comment by the director of the Bond Bank who is quoted in the 6/27/11 issue of the IBJ concerning the distribution of TIF funds, "This is a pot of funds that can be used."  (Our emphasis, again.)

We’re all in favor of priorities.  But we think the first one should be protection for the taxpayer, ahead of Monon Trail worries.  It should start with reporters recognizing and reporting that public officials are deliberately misleading or outright lying to us while throwing tax dollars around like beads being tossed from a Mardi Gras float.

The leadership of the city of Indianapolis does not take a back seat to the spending profligates in Washington. Unless the mayor can just print the money, the fact that the numbers are a little smaller is irrelevant.

Comments

[sjudge]

How can the pot be smaller? We capped property taxes, and the recession cost the city $50 million in income tax revenue this year.

[Fred McCarthy]

Touche - But shouldn't we take into account the billion dollars worth of real estate and improvements in downtown Indianapolis which are not on the tax rolls at all, provided primarily on behalf of our professional sports enterprises which are, in essence, then paid by the taxpayer to use those facilities. I'll amend my thoughts to say that when the pot is smaller due to voluntary giveaways of this magnitude, then a look at priorities is even more crucial.

[Vox Populi]

This city continues to spend scarce tax dollars to support the local fat cats of Indianapolis while as others on this blog have noted our city is quickly deteriorating. It seems like anyone who is connected can get a slice of the pie but when citizens ask for needed changes in the infrastructure for the betterment of all they are told there isn't any money in the budget. What happens when our revenues don't meet our debt load? Why aren't we paying off the bond debt off the TIFs? Why doesn't anyone in this town care that this city isn't going broke?

[Kronic]

I believe that in legalizing marijuana there is revenue from its sales and profits to the government as well.

[newzealand Pandora Charms]

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