Ballard: A legacy shaped by deals
Republican Greg Ballard was full of surprises after an unlikely mayoral victory eight years ago. As he leaves the mayor’s office, he hopes his legacy is a new group of GOP leaders.
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State audit expresses doubts about Terre Haute’s future
The audit of Terre Haute’s finances raise doubts about its ability to continue to operate as a municipality. It notes that the city is one of those hardest hit by reductions in property values and property tax caps.
Carmel on road to $217M in infrastructure projects
The list of projects slated over three years includes about 30 more roundabouts, other street improvements, and land acquisition. It would lead to property tax increases for most residents.
New York Street to open to two-way traffic through IUPUI
The goal of the change is to slow traffic through IUPUI and increase traffic circulation for commuters to and from the campus and nearby hospitals.
Aid for Carmel rose to $5.4M, to council leader’s surprise
Carmel City Council President Rick Sharp said he was under the impression that the city only needed to borrow $2.9 million to fix a budget shortfall, and wasn’t told the actual amount until after the council voted to approve the deal.
Hogsett taps former Lt. Gov. Davis as ‘city systems engineer’
Local pastor David Hampton and not-for-profit director Jeff Bennett have been picked as deputy mayors by Mayor-elect Joe Hogsett. Former Lt. Gov. Kathy Davis was chosen to help to solve the city’s budget challenges.
City-County Council members approve pay raise
Indianapolis City-County Council members voted Monday night to give themselves their first pay hike since 2002.
Carmel City Council OKs borrowing $2.9M from CRC reserves
The agreement between the council and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission gives the CRC the authority to use $2.9 million in its supplemental reserve fund to make a bond payment for the city.
Carmel asks to borrow $2.9M from redevelopment commission
Carmel is short of revenue this year, prompting the city to look for other ways to pay claims, debt service and payroll for the next couple of weeks.
Critics vindicated by Carmel cash woes
A budget shortfall at Carmel Utilities has led to a deficit in the city’s general fund—a problem critics of Mayor Jim Brainard have been warning about for months.
Groups seek to amp up Indy’s star power with TV, film initiative
The two-year, $300,000 initiative will court production crews for movies and TV commercials and shows. A consortium of city, civic and tourism groups think it could have a $6 million annual impact.
Hogsett appoints Troy Riggs to be new IMPD chief
Citing a “public safety crisis,” Mayor-elect Joe Hogsett picks a major player from Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration.
Councilor to ditch proposal to raise mayor’s pay
Outgoing councilor Mary Moriarty Adams, who co-authored the proposal, said she would seek to drop a proposed salary increase for the mayor but would still pursue higher pay for city-county councilors.
Johnson gets 5-year sentence in Indy Land Bank case
David Johnson, who was found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering as part of the Indy Land Bank scandal, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison Friday by U.S. District Judge William T. Lawrence.
Hamilton County blazes trail with court e-filing system
This summer, Hamilton was the first Indiana county to begin electronic filing of court cases. All counties are preparing for the transition, which will cost the state $5 million annually.
Council mulls $30,000 raise for next mayor, pay hike for members
The proposed $125,000 salary for incoming Mayor Joe Hogsett would still be less than the pay for mayors in Gary and Fort Wayne but more than the governor. The pay hike would be the first for the office since 2002.
Hamilton County officials leery of new homes with lower price points
If homes don’t have a high enough price tag, a municipality could end up losing money. That’s because, under the state’s property tax caps, lower assessed values might not generate enough tax to cover the cost of city services.
Fishers set to open 60-acre park
Flat Fork Creek Park features a 50-foot sledding hill, nature trails, a two-mile mountain bike course, a fishing pond and three tree houses. It is set to open Dec. 3.
Some Indiana cities worry about impact of proposed LGBT bill
Officials in some Indiana cities with ordinances that provide protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents are concerned that a bill lawmakers will consider in the 2016 session could undermine their local authority.
Hogsett starts ‘aggressive’ cost review of city programs
Indianapolis mayor-elect Joe Hogsett has enlisted public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Horwath LLP to help complete a “strategic review” of city-county government.