Legislators in no rush to fix local judge selection process
Marion County’s unique power-sharing judicial-election system won’t be fixed anytime soon, even though a federal judge has ruled the four-decade-old system is unconstitutional.
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Rogue Democrat Mahern resigns from Indy council
Democrat Brian Mahern has left the Indianapolis City-County Council. Coming with more than a year left in the term, the resignation allows the party to appoint someone to the seat.
Fishers’ conversion from town to city brings prickly pay issues to fore
Six candidates ran for mayor of Fishers in the May primary without knowing what the job would pay. More than 20 sought seats on its first City Council. Now the outgoing Town Council—with at least two members who won’t return to the dais next year—must decide how to compensate the victors come Jan. 1.
IndyGo deciding which routes should get focus and resources
IndyGo isn’t threatening to eliminate routes, but it is trying to craft a policy to guide it through landmark changes: next year’s opening of the $20 million Downtown Transit Center and, possibly, the passage of a referendum in favor of a regional rapid-transit system.
State pension fund sees wave of retirements prior to rate drop
The Indiana Public Retirement System lowered the interest rate on its annuity savings accounts on Oct. 1, possibly contributing to a 35-percent jump in retirements for state and local government workers this year.
Library plans $59M in new branches, upgrades
Indianapolis Public Library officials are seeking approval from the city to borrow funds to renovate, relocate and build entirely new branches across the city. Despite growing emphasis on digital media, library visits are increasing, they say.
Developer seeks tax break for downtown hotel project
Developers planning a new Home2 Suites by Hilton in downtown Indianapolis are asking the city for a property-tax break on the project that could save them more than $650,000.
Council OKs $70m road bond
The borrowing plan will target streets and sidewalks across the city. Also on Monday night, City-County Councilors approved a $1 billion city budget.
Ballard’s preschool plan gets new life in city budget
The $1 billion budget approved by the City-County Council Monday night included a last-minute amendment that could put $1.7 million toward the mayor’s plan to cut crime and expand access to preschool.
City-County Council to vote on $70M bond issue for roads
The plan scales back Mayor Greg Ballard’s original proposal for borrowing $150 million to help handle street repair.
Indiana cuts some public audits over shortages
The State Board of Accounts no longer is auditing the financial records of Indiana libraries, conservancy districts, some public school accounts, and small towns and townships, its leader says.
New bus service to deliver workers to warehouse districts
Two reverse-commute routes will serve the north Plainfield and Whitestown warehouse districts, taking workers from Indianapolis to major employers like Amazon, GNC, Ingram Micro and Tempur Sealy.
Tax revenue grows in downtown district
A new report from the Legislative Services Agency shows that a special taxing district downtown captured more than $16 million in state and local tax revenue.
Judge halts planned consolidation of Zionsville, Perry Township
A Boone County judge has ruled that Zionsville can’t absorb the operations of Perry Township even if voters OK a reorganization plan that’s already on next month’s ballot.
Indianapolis again says proposals for justice complex not public
A representative of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard told Marion County judges Monday that the request for proposals the city issued to three teams competing to design, finance and construct a criminal justice facility is not a document the public can see.
High demand for road salt pushes costs up for state, city
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works will pay 11.5 percent more for road salt this winter than it did a year ago. Salt prices on regional bids across the state are now an average of 57 percent higher than last year's prices, according to INDOT.
Coalition announces legislative agenda aimed at public fraud
A group of officials representing local, state and federal governments will push a series of legislative proposals meant to protect public funds and speed the recovery of tax dollars lost to fraud.
Access counselor doubts city’s need for secrecy on RFP
Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt told the city of Indianapolis that he wasn't swayed by its reasons for withholding its request for proposals for a new $500 million criminal justice complex.
Council Dems say they’re pushing preschool debate into 2016
City-County Council President Maggie Lewis and Vice President John Barth said children could be served next year by the state’s much smaller pilot program, which will reach nearly 800 economically disadvantaged four-year-olds in Marion County.
Former GIPC leader gets 2 years of home detention
The former executive director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee was sentenced to two years of home detention Friday after pleading guilty to four counts of forgery. The plea agreement was approved after Matthew Hendrix turned over a restitution check for $126,356.