tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post5468835266753183478..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-46220023714828004342007-04-19T06:12:00.000-05:002007-04-19T06:12:00.000-05:00Well if people were living in, and paying taxes on, the abandoned homes in Marion County it would help. The state getting a handle on predatory lending would also help. A mayor with fiscal responsibility would also help.<BR/><BR/>Am I asking too much?<BR/><BR/>And yes SOS, you are right...the priorities of the City, State and Country are misplaced, misguided and wasting money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-22890719711223243232007-04-18T18:52:00.000-05:002007-04-18T18:52:00.000-05:00Two words - misplaced priorities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-30161140873810416522007-04-18T15:59:00.000-05:002007-04-18T15:59:00.000-05:00Another part of the pension financing problem is a national change in accounting procedures. All local government entities with pension obligations have been hit hard everywhere -- it's just not Indianapolis although it's been aggravated by years of "No new taxes!" self-hypnosis by the GOP.Wilson46201https://www.blogger.com/profile/14214029150233485312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-51710060464608216602007-04-18T14:51:00.000-05:002007-04-18T14:51:00.000-05:00The biggest finanacial problem facing Indianapolis is a huge unfunded pension obligation. This is a problem that previous administrations decided not to touch. The problem has gotten bigger. It is a time bomb that keeps on ticking. Peterson is proposing a way to get a handle on the problem. If you don't like Bart's approach, I would love to hear other suggestions for dealing with the unfunded pensions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-42058635774792101892007-04-18T12:51:00.000-05:002007-04-18T12:51:00.000-05:00When the Mayor came after me in December 2005 with a press conference and a lawsuit in order to get some face time on TV, I began to wonder how else is the Mayor wasting citizen money to further his own political agenda.<BR/><BR/>I have no idea what the city has spent so far trying to prosecute me over a zoning violation, however I'm sure AI's readers can do the math. The case has been in litigation for 18 months. <BR/><BR/>I'm also curious why mainstream media is not holding the Mayor accountable for the vast amount of thoughtless spending that happens in city government. We all know there is plenty of waste and little to no belt tightening. <BR/> <BR/>See my linked website for details about my particular case which clearly shows frivilous spending authorized by Mayor Peterson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-83756742149242177162007-04-18T09:12:00.000-05:002007-04-18T09:12:00.000-05:00You raise a good point, Gary, but here's another point: lack of backbone.<BR/><BR/>In 1973, when the legislature passed the currently-used property tax "reform" system, we raised the state sales tax. To 4%. The extra money was divided between one fund whose name I cannot remember, and the Property Tax Replacement Fund. Which aritficially "lowered" your property tax bill. With money form an increased sales tax. I'm not making this up.<BR/><BR/>Goofy-assed 1973 legislators demanded that Conty Treasurers include on their tax bills, the "savings" they'd given property taxpayers by this innovative tax shift. <BR/><BR/>In 1997 (I may be off a year) Tax Court Judge Fisher ruled the entire system unconstitutional. He gave the legislature a timeframe in which to correct it. They waited until the last freaking minute to try, and they failed miserably. Hence, trending, taxes based on real property value, etc. Which may be OK but we'll never know because the water is so tainted it takes a genius to figure it all out. In case you haven't noticed, our legislature is void of genius material.<BR/><BR/>The whole system is a mess, and it's because no one has the guts to admit it. Except Sen. Kenley. He has proposed some sweeping changes that actuall ymakes long term sense.<BR/><BR/>And I am a Democrat.<BR/><BR/>Who is seriously looking for legislative courage, whatever the consequence. There has been NONE since 1973, when Bowen's stupid tax plan was rolled out.<BR/><BR/>Poof be gone Brian Bosma. You're part of the problem. Get on board any train that turns this system upside down and makes it right.<BR/><BR/>Courage is a sorryful commidity, and scarce. Bond ratings will continue to suffer until we get this figured out right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com