State, city government freeze hiring—but haven’t furloughed employees—as budgets tighten
State and local government budgets are expected to be hit hard as a result of restaurants, retailers and other businesses being closed for weeks.
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Anonymous donors pay water and sewer bills for Fortville residents
Town Manager Joe Renner said some residents had bills as high as $100. He said the total donation was more than $210,000.
Are local governments ready for the storm clouds brewing? At least they have time to plan.
City and county officials are grappling with the sacrifices they’ll have to make as plummeting employment, delayed collections and reduced economic activity cut into tax revenue.
Health officials in Indiana seek money, manpower after first COVID-19 case surfaces
Tracking down who might have come into contact with the first patient to test positive will require plenty of legwork, and more cases are sure to arise, officials said.
Legislature proves it’s unafraid to meddle in Indianapolis affairs
Just in the past month or so, lawmakers have debated proposals to prohibit cities from regulating landlord-tenant relations, allow the attorney general to step in when a local prosecutor decides not to pursue a case, and cut funding to IndyGo—which might stop construction of future bus rapid-transit lines.
GOP lawmakers push to broaden definition of panhandling
The new language, which was added to a bill this week, would effectively make it illegal to panhandle in all of downtown Indianapolis.
Indiana counties battle cyber attackers with help from state, feds
To fight cyberattacks, state and local government officials are taking a page from the enemy’s playbook by expanding protections against attacks from one entry point to thousands.
Public-private partnership launching venue to test, develop 5G technologies
Indiana is positioning itself to be the epicenter for the latest generation of wireless technology, which experts say will be revolutionary.
911 tax hike means Hamilton County has cash to spend
An income tax hike going into effect next year will generate millions of dollars more than needed—a windfall government officials are eyeing to help pay for other public safety initiatives.
Cities seek state authority to join forces on taxes, projects
Central Indiana elected officials want to create a formal organization that could combine regional resources to pursue transformational projects.
Hogsett, Merritt lay out plans for infrastructure, poverty in first mayoral debate
The debate was the first of 2019 between Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, a Democrat, and Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt. The debate largely focused on infrastructure and regionalism, inequity and public safety.
Carmel to pay $64,000 to change Westfield highway sign
The sign installed along U.S. 31 near 146th Street in Carmel says “Westfield” on both the north and south sides of the sign, even though drivers heading south are traveling into Carmel.
Fortville girds for population surge but seeks to keep charm
The next few years will be big for Fortville as it launches several projects near downtown that aim to make the area more pedestrian-friendly and draw in more businesses.
Merritt calls Hogsett’s food insecurity plan ‘complete waste of money’
Republican mayoral candidate state Sen. Jim Merritt on Thursday criticized Mayor Joe Hogsett’s plan to spend about $580,000 on programs to combat food insecurity in Indianapolis and said it “will likely make the problem worse.”
IBJ, Indy Chamber team up to host mayoral debate
The debate is scheduled to take place during the chamber’s annual HobNob event, in August at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown.
Buttigieg criticized at emotional town hall after shooting
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg faced contentious questioning Sunday from angry residents of South Bend a week after a white police officer fatally shot a black man in the city where he is mayor.
Indianapolis mayoral candidates compete over food-insecurity plans
Jim Merritt on Thursday proposed his own initiatives to tackle the issue of food insecurity in Indianapolis, and he criticized those recently made by Mayor Joe Hogsett as “Band-Aid” solutions.
New CIB leader Andy Mallon is mix of ‘bulldog,’ ‘cool head’
The 43-year-old Indianapolis native will have to carry out a slate of calculated moves designed to give the quasi-government agency a more sound financial future, including a 25-year vision.
Merritt accuses Hogsett of ‘fraud’ on effort to rehab or demolish 2,000 homes
State Sen. Jim Merritt, a Republican running against Mayor Joe Hogsett in this year’s mayoral election, accused Hogsett of “purposely inflating” the number of blighted properties his administration had “improved” in Indianapolis.
City to unleash millions in tax credits for ‘signature’ projects
The city of Indianapolis is set to receive $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which it will use to finance high-impact projects in low-income or distressed areas.