Our local elected officials continually face many difficult decisions as they manage the finances and other areas of Indianapolis and Marion County. I truly congratulate the City-County Council and especially President Maggie Lewis and Mayor Greg Ballard for their leadership in working together in a bipartisan way to pass the budgets for the City of Indianapolis and its municipal corporations.
We have seen the difficulties and hardships caused by the gridlock in Washington and we are most fortunate in this community that our leaders have dealt with difficult issues in a positive manner that insures our city will continue to grow.
Indianapolis continues to support and promote our local institutions and events such as the Indianapolis Zoo, Children’s Museum, Indiana Black Expo, the Circle City Classic, the visual and performing arts and many other culturally important attractions. Without these centerpieces of excellence, Indianapolis would have no Colts, no Pacers, and no reputation as a fabulous host of the Super Bowl in 2012.
The business case for continuing investments in our airport and other facilities such as the Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and Bankers Life Fieldhouse is easily made. Substantial revenues are realized from renting space to conventions, food and beverage consumption, hotel room rentals, and car rental fees, much of which are paid by out-of-towners. Additionally, many jobs are created throughout our community helping to insure the financial health of our city.
Thankfully, we have elected officials in Indiana who exhibit the leadership and good common sense to do what is best for all of the citizens in Indianapolis and Indiana.
Congratulations Mayor Ballard and President Lewis! Please keep working hard to maintain Indianapolis and Marion County as a wonderful area in which to live and raise our families.
William G. Mays
Chairman, Mays Chemical Company Inc.
C-C Council approves 2014 city budget
Budget adds 80 IMPD Officers, Supports Schools
and Protects Taxpayers
The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a 2014 budget in a bipartisan vote that included input from both Democrats and Republicans.
The budget adds 80 needed officers to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department ranks, but holds the line on taxes and protects critical school funding.
Council President Maggie Lewis said, “I am pleased we came to a bipartisan agreement that serves our entire community. A budget that improves public safety and protects taxpayers is a win for all our residents.”
“Throughout the budget process, the council majority and mayor’s office worked together,” said C-C-Council Vice President John Barth. “From the beginning, the council’s goal has been to support IMPD officers while minimizing the impact on taxpayers. We were able to do both with this budget.”
According to Mayor Greg Ballard, a compromise fully funds the 2014 budget; provides for a second IMPD recruit class in 2014 of 30 officers, bringing the total to 80 officers for 2014, and provides funding for IMPD raises identical to an offer accepted by Indianapolis Fire Department leadership.
“This agreement achieves my goals of adding a second IMPD recruit class and avoiding months of budget debates that shake confidence in the city’s fiscal stability,” said Mayor Ballard. “This deal is not perfect as it delays long-term fiscal questions to 2015, but it will provide the necessary revenue to hire new police officers and continue making the necessary investments that make Indy a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
The budget negotiations focused on finding another way to pay for additional police officers. To fund a class of 30 IMPD officers in addition to the 50 already in the budget, the council and mayor agreed to tap a $5.7 million fund for legal expenses for the Citizens Energy Utilities transfer that had reverted to the city and to use $6.9 million from the fiscal stability fund.
In addition to passing the budget, the council introduced a proposal to create a bipartisan study commission to determine the appropriate and necessary number of IMPD officers and to review and analyze long-term funding options.
