The Indiana Senate by a vote of 28-22 passed legislation that would allow cities and towns to install cameras at intersections to catch drivers who run red lights.  The cameras would photograph rear plates and the tickets issued could not be more than $100. Proponents say it will save lives and free up police.  My […]

Proponents of township government may be basking the glow of “victories” at the Statehouse Wednesday they can’t be so oblivious as to deny the inevitable? Can they deny property tax caps are coming? Can they deny declining property values that will negatively impact their tax base? Can they deny the bad economy will likely impact […]

There are a lot of things in this world which I never thought I would see. Barack Obama as President.  O. J. Simpson in jail.  And Republican State Senator Mike Young of Indianapolis vote to raise taxes on Marion County residents, but that’s pretty much what he did today in the Senate Local Government Committee. […]

The Marion County townships with fire departments and no plans to consolidate do have a plan to deal with the impending shortfall due to property tax caps, it’s called raise taxes. Pike, Wayne, Decatur, Franklin and Lawrence are facing millions in shortfalls when the property tax caps kick in fully in 2010.  Although some have […]

Here are some little things to report this morning.   I’ll be at the Statehouse later with more updates… City officials say they may be able to save a couple million in interest payments on Lucas Oil Stadium due to refinancing which can help them get a little closer to plugging the $43 million operational […]

Indiana lawmakers took their first major step today toward passing a budget.  By a vote of 14-9, the House Ways and Means Committee passed a one-year spending plan totaling $14.5 billion. The budget includes more than $308 million in new spending; most of which goes for education which was not included in Governor Daniels’ budget and $26 […]

In a room full of more Libertarians than media, At-large City-County Councilor Ed Coleman today officially cast aside his Republican label for a Libertarian one. Coleman says he left the GOP because the “party had changed” and was not “the same party he joined years ago.”  He also said the current Republican-controlled Council abuses its […]

Here are ten simple rules on how NOT to have a “informational” Town Hall meeting on the implications of a total ban on smoking in all workplaces in Marion County. Don’t have everyone on your “information” panel be associated with the anti-smoking group. Don’t have your moderator be affiliated with the anti-smoking group. Don’t have […]

Expect an announcement tomorrow morning from the Marion County Libertarian Party that At-large City-County Councilor Ed Coleman is joining their ranks. Coleman would not comment on the move when I spoke to him tonight at an east side forum over a proposed city-wide smoking ban. Libertarian party officials were also silent, however, I have confirmed  […]

I’ll make this quick… SB 452 is the first local government reform bill to pass the State Senate.  It gives counties the option to choose either a county-council form of government with a chief executive or a county board with a city manager. Amendments are being heard to HB 1213 which would ban smoking in […]