That’s how our little paperback dictionary defines the word "microcosm." Has it occurred to anyone how Indianapolis more and more seems to be a microcosm of the world known as Washington, D.C.? The question arises from a headline in yesterday’s paper. "Most city agencies face budget cuts."
Well, maybe not really. We’re not sure about the local situation, but we feel certain that nothing significant will get done about any real budget cuts down east. They’re still calling a reduction in an increase a cut!
But there are parallels. While citing budget woes, the city is still committing to further debt for highly questionable projects. A parking garage in Broad Ripple appears to be a giveaway. A development on the south side of the downtown area will get public financial aid after private sources won’t touch the deal. Once called No-So, the city has changed the name to City Way. Here’s a suggested alternative. How about No Way?
And, having made the determination that TIF funds can be used outside the geographic area of the district, they have suddenly decided that $40 million can be used to "reimburse" the city for downtown infrastructure expenditures.
"Ballard said the city has spent more than $40 million Downtown in recent years." He’s short by several hundred million, but maybe we should be happy that he was reported to have said "spent" instead of "invested.." That in itself is at least a step toward more honest use of our language, if not of our money.
There is a brief reference to the city using $4 million of "Capital Improvement Board money" for some Super Bowl "public safety costs." Sounds like we might be reaching the point of calling the use of our money a "tax expenditure" like they do in Washington.
There is one engaging bit of whimsy in the story. The Democrat candidate for mayor refers to the current mayor having made promises he couldn’t keep. She says, "It’s something he should not have done as a candidate." We wondered whether she was distinguishing between promises he couldn’t keep and those he never intended to keep.
It is an interesting thought, but either way, we think the concept would leave the city in dead silence for the months ahead of the election.
Hmmm. Why not give it a try?
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