tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post7039619397438772376..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-75261804609655471042008-04-26T14:18:00.000-05:002008-04-26T14:18:00.000-05:00Concerned, there never was any money put in the budget for operating costs. It's not because there was overruns.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08899023066910200507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-85759878790130536412008-04-25T20:26:00.000-05:002008-04-25T20:26:00.000-05:00"Correct me if I'm wrong here -- but wasn't it cost overruns that pushed us to having the $10 million annual operating money left to Indy taxpayers to fund?"<BR/><BR/>You're wrong here. Fred Glass and Bart Peterson "FORGOT" that the new super huge stadium MIGHT cost a little more to operate and lied to the public saying the operating costs would be the same. There was NEVER any money put in the budget for the extra expense.Concerned Taxpayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952241910289966736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-38855450936373719312008-04-25T13:09:00.000-05:002008-04-25T13:09:00.000-05:00indyernie -- you might be right. I may have overreached to nab Ballard on this one. <BR/><BR/>I do think Ballard named the wrong person to lead the CIB due to the appearance of a conflict of interest. I did assume that Grand did what Ballard wanted him to do and that may be incorrect. Now that the news is out and the Star editorial board has made it a prime story, let’s see if Ballard steps in and makes all the CIB/Colts decisions transparent and fully disclosed - retroactive to this one, too.jabberdoodlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773449819475280421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-43031263181260642012008-04-25T11:23:00.000-05:002008-04-25T11:23:00.000-05:00Our Mayor promised open and accountable government and we need to hold the mayor's office feet to the fire on this one. <BR/><BR/>Everyone you know should be forwarded this information about the CIB and the Colts and fight this with PR heat and pressure from the taxpayers.M Theoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01892309818226431745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-44702033665083878932008-04-25T10:28:00.000-05:002008-04-25T10:28:00.000-05:00No the $10M didn't appear as a result of cost overruns. There is (was) a contingency fund for cost overruns (which is running quite low if not on empty).<BR/><BR/>Just think about it: The annual cost to maintain and operate the place COULD HAVE been covered, and that still-unresolved parking garage requirement could have been paid for, by a fraction of those naming rights fees - which would have been sensible, prudent and reasonable. But here we are...Bart Lieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294734264133374462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-43029038241761897272008-04-25T09:13:00.000-05:002008-04-25T09:13:00.000-05:00Indyernie,<BR/><BR/>Certainly Mayor Ballard deserves blame for his appointments to the CIB, people committed to secrecy and a refusal to ask questions.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08899023066910200507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-57381729161937151372008-04-25T07:59:00.000-05:002008-04-25T07:59:00.000-05:00jabberdoodle,<BR/>Greg Ballard isn't keeping anyone in the dark.<BR/>This deal was sealed before he was elected. <BR/>Don't blame the new Mayor for something that we allowed the old one to do.indyerniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03817373902728915873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-49623394320479633022008-04-25T07:57:00.000-05:002008-04-25T07:57:00.000-05:00I showed a gas station the money yesterday. Actually they showed it to me!<BR/><BR/>Speedway on US 36 in Avon screwed up and changed their price to $2.58instead of the gouging $3.58. <BR/>Yeah, I filled up, called a couple of friends who I knew were close, and walked away with a smile!<BR/>Pretty sad that $2.58 a gallon got people excited!!!<BR/>Do I feel bad? <BR/><B>HELL NO!!!!</B><BR/><BR/>I know that was off topic, but it is worth sharing!!!garyjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18141621101828080762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-15056902820812354972008-04-25T07:49:00.000-05:002008-04-25T07:49:00.000-05:00Correct me if I'm wrong here -- but wasn't it cost overruns that pushed us to having the $10 million annual operating money left to Indy taxpayers to fund? As well as putting the expansion of the Convention Center in jeopardy?<BR/><BR/>Seems Bart negotiated a bad deal, Mitch took the gravy train and spent like a sailor in port, and now Greg, who is left holding the bag to some extend, is doing what he can to keep the citizens in the dark. Wouldn't it be great to see this much effort and political muscle put to something actually important?<BR/><BR/>As for the $10 million annual operating expenses - I'm thinking the taxpayers of Indianapolis will be footing that bill by ourselves. It's not clear if the latest tax legislation that bans refinancing bonds for more or longer than the original bonds will apply to the stadium bonds. It does apply to "bonds payable from property taxes, special benefit taxes or TIF revenues". It could be said that the stadium construction costs are being repaid from a 'special benefit tax' as the money will come from that special county tax. Of course, the legislature goes into session every year...jabberdoodlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773449819475280421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-8817860044568891232008-04-25T07:27:00.000-05:002008-04-25T07:27:00.000-05:00I often comment about the emphasis on sports this way. When a city can't afford to carry the crap to the sewage treatment plant, pay its law enforcement officers a decent wage, or its firemen and teachers, repair its infrastructure, potholes, etc. etc. etc. then it also can't afford to have a billion dollar playground for millionaire athletes. The sports minded enthusiasts immediately debate the topic telling me how much the Colts bring to our community. The facts are facts, our local government is cash starved but the powerful political brokers want this stadium and this team and their basic thinking is screw the taxpayer and we don't care. The CIB is not elected. I thought we elected a people minded Mayor, his immediate appointments to this board show he is owned by the powerful political people. Happy driving on the potholes.MissouriDemocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12601903002852569236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-16517461234624780042008-04-25T06:51:00.000-05:002008-04-25T06:51:00.000-05:00It's the ages-olc 'goldmine' arrangement: They get the gold and we get the shaft.Bart Lieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294734264133374462noreply@blogger.com