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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe IBJ reported [April 8] that Center Township has “money to burn” with a surplus of $6.7 million. The article also noted that township spending on needy applicants has actually gone down during the recession.
Then we learned the Capital Improvement Board approved a $2 million payment so the Colts can build new suites at the Lucas Oil Stadium. Worse, the CIB approved continuation of the arrangement to let the Colts retain concession revenue from non-Colts events (as the CIB also allows for the Pacers).
We also heard that state Senate leaders now want a study of a $1.5 billion freeway bypass loop project from Interstate 69 to Interstate 65. Meanwhile, the Legislature objected to letting central Indiana voters decide on raising taxes to fund an improved transit system that serves more than one county.
In short, the Indianapolis region has money to burn for projects we feel like doing (new freeways and subsidies to for-profit sports teams) and no stomach to look at badly needed township reform. Worse, we eagerly raise taxes to expand sports team subsidies but won’t let voters even vote on the issue of new taxes for expanded regional transit.
This region should be ashamed of itself.
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Bill Malcolm
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