4/9/2005
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Peterson: House majority missed chance to reform local government, save taxpayers $35 million a year
Mayor vows to keep trying to cut the size government until last day of session
INDIANAPOLIS - Mayor Bart Peterson today said that the Indiana House of Representatives has missed several opportunities to pass Indianapolis Works, the government reform package that saves taxpayers $35 million a year.
However, the Mayor vowed to keep fighting for the plan until the last day of the legislative session.
"I will fight for Indianapolis Works until I've expended my last ounce of energy and my last drop of idealism," Mayor Peterson said, reiterating his remarks in his State of the City Address in early March.
Inaction in the House. On March 30 in the House Local Government Committee, the majority of Indianapolis Works was amended into Senate Bill 638.
However, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the House, said Peterson, missed three key opportunities to reform government and save taxpayers $35 million every year:
• On Wednesday, the House majority voted down - along party lines - a motion by Rep. Greg Porter to bring SB 638 to a vote, even though the House Local Government Committee had already passed it 9-1 and despite repeated calls from the business community to vote the bill.
• On Thursday evening, the House majority voted along party lines to defeat an amendment by Rep. William Crawford to amend the Indianapolis Works reform measures into another bill.
• Also on Thursday, the House majority refused to vote on SB 638 and let it die when the midnight deadline for a vote was reached.
The House did pass an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Phil Hinkle, on Thursday which includes some measures on local government, but does not achieve the goals, efficiencies and full tax savings of Indianapolis Works. In fact, it leaves at least $27 million in taxpayer savings from fire consolidation and the streamlining of township government off the table.
"The amendment passed by the House majority is not Indianapolis Works," Peterson said. "It does not reform government and improve services; it only protects township government. Taxpayers deserve a full $35 million in savings and the right to maintain adequate police patrols, fire service and other necessary services.
"These votes against this plan only protect the status quo, and particularly township politicians, which is clearly not the most efficient way to run local government," the Mayor added. "Their proposal is a missed opportunity to save, at a minimum, $27 million per year, despite their claim to support government reform."
Senate update. Indianapolis Works also is alive in the Indiana Senate as a result of an amendment by Sen. Billie Breaux last night. The amendment added the budget consolidation portion of Indianapolis Works into SB 1097. As a result, there is vehicle bill in the Senate that keeps the government reform package alive.
What's at stake. Peterson also repeated the stark reality of what local residents face if Indianapolis Works does not pass this year.
"Indianapolis Works will cut the cost of government by $35 million every year," Peterson said. "Without it, we face very unattractive, but very real cuts in the services taxpayers expect and deserve.
When the plan was announced in August, Peterson warned that Indianapolis was experiencing what other cities across the country, such as Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and others, are facing right now: local government shortfalls that are increasing at a staggering rate.
He also warned that if nothing were done, the city and county would be forced to lay off police officers, Sheriff's deputies and firefighters, close parks, cut neighborhood services and cut back on other important services.
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