tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post8024550980959261414..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-75193609017737242162007-11-14T20:59:00.000-05:002007-11-14T20:59:00.000-05:00Sorry 713, in the future, when Greg gives us his plan, I may not agree with everything but I will NEVER wish we had Bart back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-84325066803695817122007-11-14T19:13:00.000-05:002007-11-14T19:13:00.000-05:00Ballard is already backtracking on repealing the local option income tax and curbing spending. We may live to see the day that we wish we had Peterson back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-16919227845982460712007-11-14T18:32:00.000-05:002007-11-14T18:32:00.000-05:00<B>"other services, fees, and expenses"</B> is for "line 3" required by the State Board of Accounts. This is no new-fangled obfuscation by devious Peterson people but a phrasing used by <I>every</I> government entity across Indiana for many, many years by State law.Wilson46201https://www.blogger.com/profile/14214029150233485312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-69486079203573750222007-11-14T18:01:00.000-05:002007-11-14T18:01:00.000-05:005:27, you're wrong. The number promised is the number up and running. Monitoring is another issue.<BR/><BR/>I do not understand all this clamomring about accessibility of the city budget. It's perfectly accessible. I don't like some of the line items, but I got a copy of it easily. Nothing too confusing.<BR/><BR/>The books were not closed under this administration. The priorities were not entirely agreeable, but the books were not closed.<BR/><BR/>Geeesh. Enough with the hyperbole, huh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-18746959503350716822007-11-14T17:27:00.000-05:002007-11-14T17:27:00.000-05:00It is as much inefficiencies as it is spending.<BR/><BR/>Example - a year ago the mayor announced the first police camera and said more are on the way at a cost of almost 2 million dollars. A year later we find fewer cameras were installed than first announced and they are not even being monitored 24 hours.<BR/><BR/>Could that have money been better spent elsewhere ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-5738208811344258612007-11-14T17:24:00.000-05:002007-11-14T17:24:00.000-05:00Unlike a small Massachusetts <B>Avenue shoppe or a one-person law office, the $billion/year city budget is incredibly transparent and detailed. Every single check written is public record. Detailed annual reports are produced. The pay of every single city/county employee is a matter of public record.<BR/><BR/>A billion dollar a year budget is not a trivial thing -- it's certainly complex. By law, the municipal finances are quite accessible. It just may be a little overwhelming to the casual or biased observer...</B><BR/><BR/>Wilson, where do you getthis stuff??<BR/>Some of the line items, in the 6 or 7 figure range, are for "other services, fees, and expenses"<BR/><BR/>What the heck id "other"???? <BR/>A lot like "miscellaneous"? My wife spends money on "other", but she doean't try to hide it like Bart does.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-16746889062537606492007-11-14T17:21:00.000-05:002007-11-14T17:21:00.000-05:00Well said Melyssa, I agree too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-32044075279239016022007-11-14T15:36:00.000-05:002007-11-14T15:36:00.000-05:00Anonymous 2:24...<BR/><BR/>What can you do? <BR/><BR/>A lot. <BR/><BR/>Watch the Hoosiers For Fair Taxation blog for announcements about our upcoming rallies, including our next event (you heard it here first) for Organization Day at the Statehouse. Sounds like you might want to join in with us. There's always room for more activists.<BR/><BR/>We're not too fond of Kenley either.M Theoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01892309818226431745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-82163119561100026072007-11-14T14:26:00.000-05:002007-11-14T14:26:00.000-05:00Unlike a small Massachusetts Avenue shoppe or a one-person law office, the $billion/year city budget is incredibly transparent and detailed. Every single check written is public record. Detailed annual reports are produced. The pay of every single city/county employee is a matter of public record.<BR/><BR/>A billion dollar a year budget is not a trivial thing -- it's certainly complex. By law, the municipal finances are quite accessible. It just may be a little overwhelming to the casual or biased observer...Wilson46201https://www.blogger.com/profile/14214029150233485312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-66228233884268755582007-11-14T14:24:00.000-05:002007-11-14T14:24:00.000-05:00What do we need to do to put an absolute STOP to this proposal that Kenley and his cohorts have introduced? It's going to hurt us all in end - most of us will be paying more that way than if the property taxes had remained the same.<BR/><BR/>WHAT CAN WE DO!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-28402759052703335702007-11-14T13:04:00.000-05:002007-11-14T13:04:00.000-05:00As for the lawyers, consultants, etc, Rumor has it the shakedown began on Monday morning with calls from Ballard's people to all the major firms asking them to tell them who their "designated" point person for fundraising was going to be.<BR/><BR/>I guess they're quick learners about the Biz as Usual in this town. By the way, I wouldn't necessarily put that on Ballard himself, but I'm sure the T Team cranked up the Standard Operating Procedure now that they're in place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-86942538530392614862007-11-14T12:30:00.000-05:002007-11-14T12:30:00.000-05:00Agreed, Melyssa.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-28148917551627055362007-11-14T12:26:00.000-05:002007-11-14T12:26:00.000-05:00Of course the books were very closed with Peterson's administration. That's partly why we all fought so hard to get Peterson out of office. The administration was closed, unfriendly to the citizens, and had a cloak of secrecy that caused a lot of us to worry about the health of our city.<BR/><BR/>I predict the financial state of our city is worse than any of us thought due to Peterson's insane spending habits.<BR/><BR/>I also think that's why Peterson had such intense tunnel vision in pushing through the COIT. <BR/><BR/>I love how directly Ballard dealt with that question. He'd be a fool to talk about money until he knows what the REAL books look like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com