Indiana

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime, or $26 Million?

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

By now everybody knows Indianapolis is going through some pretty tough financial times right now, or do they?

You would think with the city facing a $26 million shortfall and potential $200 million deficit in 2012, every elected official would want to do their part to keep costs down.   You would think.  Although a number of county agencies have cut back their budgets, someone did not get that memo in the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

MCSD apparently submitted a budget request that went from $85 million to $111 million, a $26 million increase.

From what I’ve been able to gather the increase was to go towards the department’s road division, motorcycle division, sex offender tracking, warrant division and new cars.  They also want to hire at least 50 people to guard the city-county building.

In addition sources with MCSD tell me the department did not budget for raises or salary increases and now those financial chickens are coming home to roost as well.

When Anderson submitted his budget request, sources say it was sent back.  I hope they told him “do not pass go, do not collect $200.”

The sheriff’s core responsibilities are overseeing the jail, building security and warrants.  It seems to me that spending $26 million on cars and motorcycles is just someone trying to stay relevant at the taxpayer’s expense.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on August 03, 2008 (boomark / email).