Leaders, candidates grapple with city savings balance
Many are looking to mayoral candidates Chuck Brewer and Joe Hogsett to craft a long-term savings strategy as Indianapolis’ reserves continue on a downward trend.
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Indianapolis body camera plan may shrink after funding fails
Indianapolis police may downsize plans to equip patrol officers with body cameras after failing to win federal grants to buy some of the wearable devices.
All property tax bills could jump if retailers win appeals
Uncertainty still looms over how much retail assessment appeals could reduce revenue for local governments, libraries and schools or whether they’ll shift costs to other taxpayers, including businesses and homeowners.
Indianapolis mayor seeks money for police body cameras
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has detailed a proposed $1 billion city budget that seeks $200,000 to start equipping police officers with body cameras.
EDITORIAL: Vision Fleet mess is lesson in secrecy
A legal battle over the city’s troubled $32 million plan to rent a fleet of electric cars could cost taxpayers dearly. But Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration left the City-County Council little choice.
UPDATE: Local officials to consider more animal shelter funding
The Department of Public Safety estimates $1.5 million is needed to address findings that the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control shelter is unsanitary, understaffed and underfunded.
$1.75B justice center could stretch budgets
Mayor Greg Ballard's office has said the city intends to pay no more than about $50 million a year over 35 years for a proposed criminal justice facility, bringing the cost to $1.75 billion.
Grassroots group challenges jail plan, wants focus on jobs
A grassroots, church-based organization is trying to stir up voter interest in the city’s plan for a new criminal justice complex and questioning the need to expand jail capacity.
Dems block funding for preschool plan as meeting erupts
The Indianapolis City-County Council’s finance committee voted to table funding for Mayor Greg Ballard’s $50 million preschool expansion plan and quickly adjourned a three-hour meeting Tuesday night despite protests.
Democrats raise doubts about Ballard’s preschool plan
Funding concerns involving the homestead credit have prompted work on an alternative plan that Democrats expect to unveil soon.
Indianapolis council OKs public safety tax hike
In a 19-10 bipartisan vote, the Indianapolis City-County Council approved a hike in the public-safety income tax. The 43-percent increase will bring the total local income tax rate to 1.77 percent.
Indianapolis 2015 budget would use reserves
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard will introduce to the City-County Council on Monday night a $1 billion budget for 2015 that taps reserves to make ends meet. Next year would be the third year in a row that the city taps fund balances to close a budget deficit.
City quietly scales back World Sports Park
Indianapolis is reining in costs and dialing back ambition at the new east-side World Sports Park. The park, which will be home to one of the few premier cricket fields in the United States, is coming in about $1 million under its $6 million budget because it will have fewer features than planned.
Council OKs smoke-detector ordinance, road repair funds
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 24-5 Monday night to update the city code on smoke detectors. It also voted 24-5 to spend $8.3 million from the Rebuild Indy fund on emergency road repairs.
City Dems propose $16 million more for road repairs
Indianapolis City-County Council Democrats want to spend $16 million more on emergency road work. The Democrats oppose Republican Mayor Greg Ballard’s plan for a $150 million bond issue and instead want to tap general and special funds.
Partisan battle freezes proposal to repave ravaged city streets
A Democrat-controlled City-County Council committee has tabled a proposal to spend $8 million in Rebuild Indy funds to repair thoroughfares hit hard by the brutal winter. Democrats say the project would favor Republican districts.
Council backs city financing plan for $81M tower
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 18-9 Monday night to provide up to $23 million in city financing for the project, with the stipulation that 30 percent of the workers hired to build the 28-story building live in Marion County.
Institute analyzing proposed sites for criminal justice complex
The Indiana University Public Policy Institute is analyzing proposed sites for a Marion County Criminal Justice Complex and may reveal its findings by the end of this week.
Ballard outlines list of initiatives in annual ‘state of’ address
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, in his annual State of the City address Thursday night, went through a checklist of potential projects while exhorting citizens to become ambassadors for the city.
Sheriff’s challengers prepare for high-profile political fight
Marion County Sheriff John Layton faces heavy criticism from two challengers, Republican Emmitt Carney and Democrat Mark Brown.