Daniels burns mortgages to mark lower Indiana debt

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says the state government's debt for construction projects and other expenses has dropped by more than half during his eight years in office.

Daniels and other state officials on Wednesday marked the early completion of payments on 10 state facilities by ceremonially burning the mortgage paperwork in a trash can outside the Statehouse.

The governor's office says the total state debt has gone from $3.6 billion to $1.7 billion since early 2005. That debt includes financing for buildings and roads and delayed payments to school districts and universities.

The paperwork burned included that for two office buildings and two parking garages near the Statehouse, White River State Park in Indianapolis and prison facilities in Pendleton, Rockville, New Castle and Plainfield.