Where Did All The Money Go?

Isn't it funny how before last year's election we were told how well Indianapolis' finances had been managed with honestly balanced budgets, and then three months into the new fiscal year we're told the city is facing a budget deficit of $50 to $70 million across all agencies? Do you really believe any of the politicians bragging about how good our city's finances were managed last fall knew they weren't covering up a big budget shortfall? Things are now so dire that we're being told police districts may have to be closed and police officers laid off to make up the shortfall. Yet money flowed freely for taxpayer-financed projects like the Broad Ripple parking garage boondoggle, the downtown City Way project (formerly North of South), subsidies for the Pacers and spending on the Super Bowl. Oh, but those came from separate pots of money we'll be told. Yes, the slush funds that have been created to divert hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure that there is always ample money to fund crony capitalism. The fact is that the last several city budgets have been put together using smoke and mirrors. Don't blame the economy. Don't blame property tax caps. Blame the people making those budget decisions who have been lying to you for the past several years because they place a higher priority on rewarding political contributors than funding basic city services.