City set to hike entertainment, visitor taxes
Indianapolis City-County Council leaders have agreed to increase visitor and entertainment taxes to avoid what one councilor called a drastic reduction in services.
Greg Ballard
Articles
Ballard nixes new redistricting plan for Council
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Friday vetoed a City-County Council redistricting plan, likely setting the stage for a lengthy court battle. He wants to stick with the lines drawn by Republicans in late 2011, before newly elected Democrats took control.
2012 NEWSMAKER: Council Dem Mahern plays role of antagonist
City-County Council Vice President Brian Mahern emerged as the chief foe of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s redevelopment agenda.
Ballard may wrest management of fieldhouse from Pacers
Indianapolis recently agreed to pay $10 million to help Pacers Sports & Entertainment run Bankers Life Fieldhouse for another year, but Mayor Greg Ballard wants to find out in the meantime whether the city can get a better deal on the venue’s management.
City unveils plan to convert vehicle fleet from gas, diesel
Mayor Greg Ballard outlined plans to shift the city’s fleet of cars, heavy trucks and even police cruisers to a mix of electricity and natural gas by 2025.
Seven more charter schools on tap for Indianapolis
Mayor Greg Ballard’s office has approved seven more charters—more than half as many as he approved in his previous five years in office.
Mayor reaches preliminary pact with police, firefighter unions
After saying in August he would revoke raises for police officers and firefighters, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has agreed in principal to a new contract that would delay a 3 percent salary hike by six months.
Ballard to nix parts of council budget
Mayor Greg Ballard plans to sign a $1 billion budget plan approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council earlier this month, but only after using his line-item veto powers to kill major portions of it.
Democrat-controlled committee OKs tapping CIB for $15M
The plan—opposed by Republican Mayor Greg Ballard and members of the CIB—now advances to the City-County Council.
Mayor signs off on domestic-partner ordinance
The ordinance covering city employees offers insurance coverage to both same-sex and heterosexual unmarried couples. The mayor also signed the “Complete Streets” proposal.
Excess TIF revenue would help close city budget gap
Mayor proposes shifting $10 million out of downtown district to help make up for $65 million general-fund shortfall.
Ballard’s budget omits funds for police, fire recruitment
The Republican mayor's administration also is trying to renegotiate scheduled 3 percent pay raises for officers and firefighters for $5.5 million in budget cuts.
EDITORIAL: Time to break TIF logjam in Indianapolis
Republican Mayor Greg Ballard’s aides says delayed action on funding proposals could jeopardize pending economic development proposals.
Ballard plans to introduce merit raises for more employees
Mayor Greg Ballard said Thursday that he plans to introduce a new system of merit raises that could put extra pressure on department chiefs to cut their budgets.
Showdown escalates in City-County Council over TIFs
Redevelopment of the Massachusetts Avenue fire station could remain in limbo for the foreseeable future, as Mayor Greg Ballard and council Democrats enter a standoff over tax increment financing districts.
Public safety due for budget cuts, mayor says
Public safety and criminal justice are the only places left in the city-county budgets to look for ways to close a $27 million spending gap for 2013. Sheriff, police, fire and court budgets account for 85 percent of the $569 million general fund.
Charter school lands more time in fight against closure
The Project School was granted a court hearing and restraining order Tuesday in its fight against Mayor Greg Ballard’s plan to revoke its charter. Ballard, though, emphasized his decision by issuing a “final notice of charter revocation.”
Mayor vetoes hotel-worker blacklisting proposal
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has vetoed a proposed ordinance aimed at hiring practices by local hotels, the mayor's office announced Thursday afternoon.
Ballard moves to shut down The Project School
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard announced Tuesday evening that he intends to revoke the charter that gives The Project School the authority to operate. Ballard cited poor test scores and “recently discovered financial problems.”
TIF study highlights district shortfalls
The tax-increment finance district created around the former United Airlines maintenance hub at Indianapolis International Airport doesn’t generate enough revenue to meet its annual debt payment. Neither do several other area TIF districts.