tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post116843511905687657..comments2024-03-25T13:42:25.771-05:00Comments on Advance Indianaâ„¢: Higher Taxes And More Borrowing In Peterson's FutureGary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168479819307208572007-01-10T20:43:00.000-05:002007-01-10T20:43:00.000-05:00Peterson does not want to solve the pension proble...Peterson does not want to solve the pension problem, he just wants to pretend to solve it. Indianapolis's budget problems are related to all of the giveaways (debt service, abatements, tax increment financing, and the like), which have hamstrung this city financially for many years. He has done nothing to make that situation better.<BR/><BR/>If the city had paid off the the Hoosier Dome and redirected the CIB funds for actual capital improvements, the city would be in good shape by now. The funds from the CIB could have (with proper legislation) been used to fund the criminal justice system, etc. It all about settting priorities. And when the priorities only relate to enriching the already wealthy, this is what we get. But the sycophants will say he had no choice; there is just no other way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168467706241952652007-01-10T17:21:00.000-05:002007-01-10T17:21:00.000-05:00How much money has Irsay and all of those develope...How much money has Irsay and all of those developers contributed to his reelection campaign? Check out his campaign account!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168446717056157912007-01-10T11:31:00.000-05:002007-01-10T11:31:00.000-05:00"Alright Gary, I'm sick of you, and those loonies ..."Alright Gary, I'm sick of you, and those loonies at IndyU bitching about how the "Mayor raised taxes for the stadium." It just ain't true. The mayor had a funding source without an additional tax, it was your beloved Governor who decided to tax the Indy Metro Area..."<BR/><BR/>Are you telling us the Gov raised the hotel, rental car, and food taxes in Marion Co.? If so, that is incorrect. It was the CCC/Mayor who did this, not the state. The state only gave the option. We could have easily told Ir$ay to take a hike. We could have easily told Ir$ay that he could either take a hike _or_ the contract would not have been as nice. There was no reason Ir$ay got the naming rights. No reason that Ir$ay should have been given income for stadium usage outside of the Colts use of the stadium. Bart gave away too much money. It will be interesting to see if Ir$ay ends up in the middle income bracket or ends up in a higher bracket compared to other NFL team owners.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168446532177961342007-01-10T11:28:00.000-05:002007-01-10T11:28:00.000-05:00"Private sector employees are seeing their pension..."Private sector employees are seeing their pension systems altered drastically. Why shouldn't public sector pensions be revamped?"<BR/><BR/>You bring up a good point. The fact is that for years a government job consisted of usually low pay but great benefits. We are now seeing a change in this. If we are going to cut benefits, then we need to pay a wage similar to the market in terms of professionalism, responsibilities, etc.. After four years, a Columbus, OH police officer makes $64,000/year. Our officers make around $52K + $6K take home car. Basically a combined income of $58K. That is still $6,000 less than a Columbus, OH officer.<BR/><BR/>I have never been a big fan of forced savings/pensions. I am hoping that we are able to get into our PERF accounts this year because I could use that money to update our master bath in our home. I have more faith in that money in helping sell/add value to our home than it being there when I retire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168436309728183632007-01-10T08:38:00.000-05:002007-01-10T08:38:00.000-05:00You couldn't be more correct. Theunfunded pension...You couldn't be more correct. <BR/><BR/>Theunfunded pension liability at that time was hovering at $400-420 million. The exact amount could not be determined. The books were that bad.<BR/><BR/>But, by my count, he has been solely responsible for four budgets since Democrats regained control of the council. <BR/><BR/>Granted, unfunded pension liability requires tax increases or loans, most of which the legislature must approve, and the opposite party over there has hated All Things Peterson<BR/><BR/>Still, it's difficult to imagine why four different budgets went the same exact direction: almost unbounded support for commerical development. To the degree our Comprehensive Plan has become a joke.<BR/><BR/>Last night's speech, preceded by the task force's crime study, brought up nothing new. <BR/><BR/>Like it or not, election year or not, I think his popularity can withstand a cold hard truth exposed to Indy's residents:<BR/><BR/>it'll cost another 80-90 million to take care of this. Let's do whatever it takes. Including, yes, God forbid, a tax increase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168436179130191042007-01-10T08:36:00.000-05:002007-01-10T08:36:00.000-05:00The mayor had a funding source without an addition...<I>The mayor had a funding source without an additional tax</I><BR/><BR/>A downtown Indy casino? That'll never happen that would cut into the ghetto pea shakes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168436046790965252007-01-10T08:34:00.000-05:002007-01-10T08:34:00.000-05:00will the multi-million-dollar handouts to business...<I>will the multi-million-dollar handouts to business the city is fond of giving away end?</I><BR/><BR/>No.<BR/><BR/>Not only is Mayor Bart being a typical Dem and falling into that spiral of tax-spend-erode tax base-tax-spend- etc, he has yet to show any effort at improving government effiency. And <B>NO</B> the consolidations are NOT improvements in government effiency. That is a high price shell game. Even fire consolidations are NOT going to bring about drastic efficiencies, unless you want to close fire stations and furlough firefighters.<BR/><BR/>Someone I know who is quite wise, tells me that <B>Government should be run like a business</B>. Right now Mayor Bart is running it like a charity, or worse - a mob. No - I correct myself - mobs make lots of money.<BR/><BR/>If Mayor Bart thinks he can force the surrounding counties into coming up with taxes to support his programs he can go perform unnatural sexual maneuvers upon himself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1168435838351126032007-01-10T08:30:00.000-05:002007-01-10T08:30:00.000-05:00Alright Gary, I'm sick of you, and those loonies a...Alright Gary, I'm sick of you, and those loonies at IndyU bitching about how the "Mayor raised taxes for the stadium." It just ain't true. The mayor had a funding source without an additional tax, it was your beloved Governor who decided to tax the Indy Metro Area...<BR/><BR/>Just get it right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com