Comments on Advance Indiana™: Ballard Administration Continues To Bleed Taxing Districts With Abatements

Thank you for sharing your experience as a former ...

2011-07-07T19:24:54.264-05:00

Thank you for sharing your experience as a former MDC member, Indianapolis For Sale and your candor about not being reappointed because you exercised independent judgment.

Gary, as a former MDC member I must take you to ta...

2011-07-07T18:58:33.229-05:00

Gary, as a former MDC member I must take you to task on a couple of your comments. Claiming that MDC members don't care what average citizens think is absolutely false. Public comment by average Joes and advocates like Pat Andrews weigh heavily on the decision-making process. During my tenure; more often than not the commission sided with the citizen.

You are correct that special deals such as tax abatement, changes to ordinances and other administrative matters are brokered by major law firms but only prior to being presented to the MDC. You are flat out wrong in thinking that somebody is making sure members "vote the right way." That simply does not happen.

Alas, I am a FORMER member so I must agree with your statement that independent judgment will get you bounced.

Where's that arch-conservative, Ben Hunter?

2011-07-07T12:45:06.925-05:00

Where's that arch-conservative, Ben Hunter?

Good luck trying to get them to talk to you, Pat. ...

2011-07-07T09:57:57.530-05:00

Good luck trying to get them to talk to you, Pat. They are unelected and are only accountable to those who appoint them to the MDC. The rule applying to specific petitions is generally thrown up in people's faces when they approach members. Members of the public are told to come and testify at the hearing; they don't want to be bothered any other time and they are under no obligation to give you any of their time.

Gary - It is not legal to discuss zoning or varian...

2011-07-07T09:44:13.242-05:00

Gary - It is not legal to discuss zoning or variance petitions that are pending before either the MDC or the BZA with any member of the Commission or Boards. You may, however, discuss other matters that are pending before the MDC.

An important legislative change in TIFS: "Se...

2011-07-07T09:38:20.301-05:00

An important legislative change in TIFS:

"Sec. 1.3. (a) After June 30, 2005, a reference in any statute, rule, ordinance, resolution, contract, or other document or record to a blighted, deteriorated, or deteriorating area established under this chapter shall be treated as a reference to an area needing redevelopment (as defined in IC 36-7-1-3).
(b) After June 30, 2005, a reference in any statute, rule, ordinance, resolution, contract, or other document or record to a redevelopment area established under this chapter shall be treated as a reference to a redevelopment project area established under IC 36-7-14 or this chapter."

The funny thing is that Indianapolis' downtown never qualified as a "blighted area". The legislature just finally got around to making the law read as it had been applied for decades.

It's interesting to observe that the Indianapo...

2011-07-07T09:22:47.350-05:00

It's interesting to observe that the Indianapolis Public School Corporation has been the most negatively impacted by these abatements and TIF districts. Literally, the school district loses well in excess of $100 million annually in property tax revenues because of these decisions. IPS never complains. IPS' legal counsel is Baker & Daniels, which often represents clients seeking economic development incentives. The firm, in fact, hired the Mayor's former deputy mayor in charge of economic development.

There are 9 MDC members. The mayor appoints 4, the...

2011-07-07T09:16:01.853-05:00

There are 9 MDC members. The mayor appoints 4, the City Council appoints 3 and the county commissioners appoint 2. You cannot speak to them about any matters before the Commission other than at meetings during public comment. Of course, the people who are in on the deals always seems to have access to them to make sure they vote the correct way.

The unelected Metropolitan Development Commission ...

2011-07-07T09:08:21.741-05:00

The unelected Metropolitan Development Commission pretty much rules the roost. There is a remonstrance opportunity by citizens, but the MDC members are always in the tank on these deals and could care less what average citizens think. You don't get appointed to the MDC unless you follow orders well; otherwise, you will be bounced for daring to exercise independent judgment. The big law firms essentially dictate to the mayor who can serve on the MDC. Most of the deals are brokered by the major law firms on behalf of their clients. Conflicts of interest abound but nobody cares.

Question, is there a process that allows the affec...

2011-07-07T08:24:25.532-05:00

Question, is there a process that allows the affected taxing districts to contest the issuance of a TIF or can the city create any TIF if and whenever they choose?