Remarks by Governor Daniels during a recent speech in Jeffersonville:
We need a fundamental review of the efficiency of local governmental cost.
ENCOURAGE, REVIEW AND SAVE.
Combine, consolidate and improve.
Local government should step forward and try to review and make the changes needed to help relieve the burden on property taxpayers.
Combine departments and save.
Source: Governor Mitch Daniels
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A TOUCHDOWN FOR TAXPAYERS!
For many of you skeptics out there who believe the average citizen has no impact on the way government is run, here is a story that may make you change your mind.
The Indianapolis Colts are getting a brand-new stadium to play in: the $700 million Lucas Oil Stadium courtesy of the Indianapolis area taxpayers. They used to play in the RCA Dome, but the powers-that-be decided the RCA Dome (less than 25 years old) wasn't good enough anymore and wanted a new stadium for the Super Bowl champs.
Taxpayers would foot the majority of the bill for the new stadium; the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL will only pay $100 million towards the $700 million price tag. In addition, the Colts get all the revenue from the naming rights to the stadium, all game day revenue, and any other revenue from events held at the stadium.
The RCA Dome will also be torn down even though it still carries a bond debt of $75 million, and taxpayers will continue to pay for a building that no longer exists (deja vu-Market Square Arena).
The Marion County Capitol Improvements Board began making plans to auction off the contents of the RCA Dome (everything from urinals to signs to stadium seats) with all the proceeds going to the Indianapolis Colts Foundation and the Indiana Sports Corporation in a deal made by the CIB and FORMER Mayor Bart Peterson. What would the taxpayers get from the auction of their public property? Zilch!
The Indy Star newspaper carried the article about the RCA Dome auction.
The Marion County citizens became outraged at this public slap in the taxpayers' face and rightly so. Radio stations, local activists, and blogs spread the news and mobilized citizens. Taxpayers began pressuring the Marion County Capital Improvement Board to reverse their decision. Taxpayers made it clear to the CIB "business as usual" was no longer going to be tolerated.
A lawsuit was immediately filed on behalf of Marion County taxpayers; the lawsuit contending since the RCA Dome was built using taxpayer money, all money from the proceeds of the auction should go back to the taxpayers and used to help pay off the bond debt for the RCA Dome.
Facing overwhelming public outrage and a lawsuit, the Marion County Capital Improvement Board changed their decision on the auction proceeds. Money from the auction (at least $1 million clear) will now go back into the CIB's general fund.
Touchdown for the Marion County taxpayers!
The Indianapolis Colts are getting a brand-new stadium to play in: the $700 million Lucas Oil Stadium courtesy of the Indianapolis area taxpayers. They used to play in the RCA Dome, but the powers-that-be decided the RCA Dome (less than 25 years old) wasn't good enough anymore and wanted a new stadium for the Super Bowl champs.
Taxpayers would foot the majority of the bill for the new stadium; the Indianapolis Colts and the NFL will only pay $100 million towards the $700 million price tag. In addition, the Colts get all the revenue from the naming rights to the stadium, all game day revenue, and any other revenue from events held at the stadium.
The RCA Dome will also be torn down even though it still carries a bond debt of $75 million, and taxpayers will continue to pay for a building that no longer exists (deja vu-Market Square Arena).
The Marion County Capitol Improvements Board began making plans to auction off the contents of the RCA Dome (everything from urinals to signs to stadium seats) with all the proceeds going to the Indianapolis Colts Foundation and the Indiana Sports Corporation in a deal made by the CIB and FORMER Mayor Bart Peterson. What would the taxpayers get from the auction of their public property? Zilch!
The Indy Star newspaper carried the article about the RCA Dome auction.
The Marion County citizens became outraged at this public slap in the taxpayers' face and rightly so. Radio stations, local activists, and blogs spread the news and mobilized citizens. Taxpayers began pressuring the Marion County Capital Improvement Board to reverse their decision. Taxpayers made it clear to the CIB "business as usual" was no longer going to be tolerated.
A lawsuit was immediately filed on behalf of Marion County taxpayers; the lawsuit contending since the RCA Dome was built using taxpayer money, all money from the proceeds of the auction should go back to the taxpayers and used to help pay off the bond debt for the RCA Dome.
Facing overwhelming public outrage and a lawsuit, the Marion County Capital Improvement Board changed their decision on the auction proceeds. Money from the auction (at least $1 million clear) will now go back into the CIB's general fund.
Touchdown for the Marion County taxpayers!