4/14/2005
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622 |
 |
Mayor: 15 days left to save $35 million a year, $100,000 every day
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana General Assembly has 15 days left to pass Indianapolis Works, the government reform package that saves taxpayers $35 million a year, Mayor Bart Peterson said today, and he vowed to keep fighting for the plan until April 29, the last day of the legislative session.
"The time to reform government and save taxpayers $35 million is now - not next year, but now," Mayor Peterson said. "It's time to stop protecting the status quo at the expense of Marion County taxpayers."
The Mayor made three main points today by urging state legislators to:
• Use the final 15 days of the legislative session to help Indianapolis and Marion County save $35 million in taxpayer dollars before it's too late;
• Put good government and $35 million in taxpayer savings before protecting the status quo; and
• Amend Indianapolis Works reform measures into either House Bill 1097, which is alive in the Indiana Senate; or Senate Bill 307, which was passed with some similar consolidation language, but is not Indianapolis Works and does not save taxpayers $35 million.
"It's not too late to do the right thing," Peterson said.
Inaction in the House. Last week, the Indiana House of Representatives majority had several chances to vote to pass Indianapolis Works, but failed on all three occasions.
First, the House majority refused to allow a vote on a bill that included most of Indianapolis Works and then let it die when the midnight deadline for a vote came last Thursday. Then, the House majority voted down an amendment to add the Indianapolis Works reform measures into another bill. All of these votes were along party lines.
Senate movement. Indianapolis Works is alive in the Indiana Senate as a result of an amendment that added the budget consolidation portion of the plan into Senate Bill 1097.
Either HB 1097, or another active bill, Senate Bill 307, could be amended to include Indianapolis Works before the end of the legislative session on April 29.
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.
|
