tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post3368218985457100828..comments2024-03-25T13:42:25.771-05:00Comments on Advance Indiana™: Raising Taxes Not A Profile In CourageGary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-26161340512567523452007-07-25T11:59:00.000-05:002007-07-25T11:59:00.000-05:00"The only way to fiscal stability is to truly get ..."The only way to fiscal stability is to truly get spending under control. That means cutting waste, sure. But more importantly, it means managing the pricing of contracts. My sense is that every contract let by the county OR state is way over priced."<BR/><BR/>Yes, when was the last time we opened up every single contract in the city to be bid by new vendors? From what I hear lots of people inside city government directly benefit from the award of city contracts paid for with our money.<BR/><BR/>Great point, Bartlies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-52999395933100766242007-07-25T08:11:00.000-05:002007-07-25T08:11:00.000-05:00I briefly knew a lot about the COIT authority gran...I briefly knew a lot about the COIT authority granted to municipalities by this past General Assembly. The DLGF has a short summary <A HREF="http://www.in.gov/dlgf/news/local-option.html" REL="nofollow">here.</A><BR/><BR/>I no longer understand it as well as I once did, but my understanding is that it provides 3 prongs, prong #3 is public safety and requires adoption of prongs #1 and #2 before #3 is an option. (#2 can be adopted without #1 and vice versa). <BR/><BR/>Prongs #1 and #2 both have to do with raising county option income taxes and using the money to reduce property taxes. Prong #3 can be used to pay for public safety.<BR/><BR/>If, as Gary suggested, Marion County is raising its county option income tax under other authority, then it doesn't necessarily come with any property tax benefits. If, however, it is done under the authority provided by HEA 1478-2007, I think by state law it has to be associated with property tax relief.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11424730556609713021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-16999645644259411172007-07-25T07:49:00.000-05:002007-07-25T07:49:00.000-05:00Wilson, it's probably a good idea that there was a...Wilson, it's probably a good idea that there was a partisan crowd in the audience to counteract the partisan crowd up in the "Hollywood Squares" boxes. Throw in Paul Lynde, and the council meetings would truly be a joke then.Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11160731577636478647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-25163403457504732082007-07-25T07:45:00.000-05:002007-07-25T07:45:00.000-05:00With all due respect anon 7:33, the Star does refe...With all due respect anon 7:33, the Star does reference the August 1 deadline in its editorial today. You neglect to mention the state also gave Marion County the option of using the COIT to partially replace property taxes; it chose not to do this. The state had also earlier advised Marion Co. to consider the COIT to replace lost business inventory tax revenues. It chose not to. As for the 2 year freeze in property tax levies, it was Councilor Nytes who said it was their hope the COIT resulted in a freeze in the property tax levies for at least 2 years. As it stands, they don't even know what property tax assessment base they have levying against since the state ordered a reassessment. The fact is there was a lot of operating in the dark on this one, which ensures the making of bad public policy.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-27965082822303484412007-07-25T07:33:00.000-05:002007-07-25T07:33:00.000-05:00Gary, you're are incorrect re: this COIT increase....Gary, you're are incorrect re: this COIT increase. It was specifically added by the GA this year and DOES require a freeze in property tax levies at the rate they are at in the current year for the next two years. It was all part of HEA 1478. Marion County would NOT have been able to go above the 1% COIT without this bill. This has been poorly explained by the media and the Peterson administration. It also had to be done by August 1. That is in the code, there is no negotiating with the state for an extension. It happens by August 1 or it doesn't go into effect for that year. So, the Star's wish for it to be "slowed down" was not possible under the statute as written.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, I expect better research and analysis from you amd a better explaination from the Peterson administration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-15120303572154409142007-07-24T21:41:00.000-05:002007-07-24T21:41:00.000-05:00The lie is that there is 'fiscal stability' in a t...The lie is that there is 'fiscal stability' in a tax hike. There is NO FISCAL STABILITY IN A TAX HIKE. The only thing that does is push back the day when the system collapses.<BR/><BR/>The only way to fiscal stability is to truly get spending under control. That means cutting waste, sure. But more importantly, it means managing the pricing of contracts. My sense is that every contract let by the county OR state is way over priced. <BR/><BR/>On top of that, there's the 'fine example' of the concrete price-fixing scandal. The perpetrators continue to get their contracts in spite of their nefarious deeds. Go figure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-13402580890849879342007-07-24T20:26:00.000-05:002007-07-24T20:26:00.000-05:00The problem is that some of their opponents are al...The problem is that some of their opponents are also worthless. Look at who is running again against Moriarity-Adams - city employee and former councilor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-90412985670978092822007-07-24T20:11:00.000-05:002007-07-24T20:11:00.000-05:00"There was a partisan crowd trying to disrupt the ..."There was a partisan crowd trying to disrupt the meeting with frequent cat-calls and hooting. Democracy is not served"<BR/><BR/>Wilson, which cartoons were you watching? <BR/>"Partisan?" Some who “catcalled” were wearing “Ditch Mitch” tee shirts while protesting a week earlier. Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians were all in attendance Monday night. Maybe if you had made an appearance at protest or two you could contribute intelligently. Get it right or keep your mouth shut.indyerniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03817373902728915873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-8082413125564896982007-07-24T19:17:00.000-05:002007-07-24T19:17:00.000-05:00This tax uncrease will go where it was intended to...This tax uncrease will go where it was intended to go, to the Capital Improvement Board. <BR/>Please note that the CIB's budget IS NOT included in the regular budget.<BR/>How many millions off this increase will go toward that new hotel/condo project?<BR/>The $83 million that the Mayor said he saved was just shifted to other governmental bodies outside of the Mayor's budget.<BR/>It's about time to shut down the CIB slush operation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-16237441756223006092007-07-24T18:43:00.000-05:002007-07-24T18:43:00.000-05:00It is very sad that the all members of the CCC wer...It is very sad that the all members of the CCC were not even given the chance to speak. When Dr. Borst asked to speak, King Ro called point of order, and shut down the floor. What a disgrace. When Dane Mahern was admonished for speaking up it confirms that if you were not willing to say what Bart, Frank, Gray and Sanders wanted you would not be provided an opportunity.<BR/><BR/>Welcome to the Peoples Republic of Indianapolis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-80743190816672677542007-07-24T18:37:00.000-05:002007-07-24T18:37:00.000-05:00With such an unruly crowd, would it have been prud...With such an unruly crowd, would it have been prudent to have even more testimony beyond that already given in two public hearings?Wilson46201https://www.blogger.com/profile/14214029150233485312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-80186890078544865832007-07-24T18:23:00.000-05:002007-07-24T18:23:00.000-05:00Wilson, I've watched council meetings where they h...Wilson, I've watched council meetings where they have permitted public testimony at the full council meetings when it suits the chair. There is no hard and fast rule that says public testimony can't be offered at a full council meeting.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-2774434022624776472007-07-24T18:21:00.000-05:002007-07-24T18:21:00.000-05:00Doug, The council did not use the newly-granted le...Doug, The council did not use the newly-granted legislative authority to use the COIT increase to reduce taxes, although Councilor Nytes says they think the increase will allow the tax levies to be frozen for 2 years, but not even that is a guarantee. The council used the statute which allows them to use COIT tax revenues for public safety, pensions and criminal justice-related expenses. As I explained in an earlier post, the whole purpose behind Marion Co's original COIT back in the 1980s was to fund a pension trust fund. As the COIT raised over the years from 0.2 to 1.0, the council began raiding those revenues and using them for public safety and short-changing pensions. None of those increases solved the problem. At the same time, we saw property tax levies creeping up, food and beverage tax hikes, hotel tax increases, higher user fees, double-digit water and sewer rate increases and the list goes on. There is no reason to believe this tax increase will solve the problem anymore than any of the other tax increases did. Making matters worse, Mayor Peterson has increased the city's indebtedness by 1000% since he took office. Future generations will be paying for the excesses of this administration.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-19607772883009964072007-07-24T18:04:00.000-05:002007-07-24T18:04:00.000-05:00There were two earlier well-publicized hearings ab...There were two earlier well-publicized hearings about the tax in which the public spoke at length. Public testimony at full City County Council meetings is out of order. There was a partisan crowd trying to disrupt the meeting with frequent cat-calls and hooting. Democracy is not served well by intimidation. In such a disorderly atmosphere, calm discourse was made impossible. Gray kept his cool in the face of demonstrators and their chaos -- he kept the meeting proceeding as smoothly as possible.Wilson46201https://www.blogger.com/profile/14214029150233485312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-20187841999790057742007-07-24T17:59:00.001-05:002007-07-24T17:59:00.001-05:00I hope you're right about the voters remembering a...I hope you're right about the voters remembering all this in November. I wish I could share your optimism.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04396326144115748778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-4103523551210576062007-07-24T17:59:00.000-05:002007-07-24T17:59:00.000-05:00Here is the number that has been used many places:...Here is the number that has been used many places: For a person earning $50,000 a year in taxable income, taxes will go up $325 a year.<BR/><BR/>Now, I guarantee you the working poor of this city are NOT making 50K. So as the paychecks get smaller on October 1 is the first time they will even ask what is happening. <BR/><BR/>We will be here to remind them who did what.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-61223929895950426282007-07-24T17:53:00.000-05:002007-07-24T17:53:00.000-05:00So, in terms of dollars, what does this tax increa...So, in terms of dollars, what does this tax increase mean to the average Marion County resident?<BR/><BR/>Also, is this COIT increase part of the new 3-pronged COIT option authorized by the General Assembly this past session, or is it a different flavor?Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11424730556609713021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-88949955319768417342007-07-24T17:18:00.000-05:002007-07-24T17:18:00.000-05:00Bravo! Bravo! I always enjoyed your well written ...Bravo! Bravo! I always enjoyed your well written perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com