Warning: Indy politicans conspiring for another regional tax grab. (Indianapolis: sales, insurance)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Warning: Indy politicans conspiring for another regional tax grab.
Well, the socialist in Indianapolis have run out of money to line the personal bank accounts of billionaires and six-figure income politically connected elites. Their private-public partnerships must stay bloated and in the black so them, their kids, their friends, and their families can get quasi government jobs that pay at a much higher rate than real government jobs.
As such, the Advance Indiana blog has issued a warning via a Fox 59 report. The political, pro-big, wasteful government spending insiders, politicians, and elites in Indy are once again targeting the surround counties for a regional tax. Most of the elected officials in the surrounding counties quick surrendered after Mitch offered them a bribe: Raise your counties food and beverage taxes by 1%, and you can keep at least .5% for your own budget, and even more if the dollars add up and move beyond a certain threshold. Being almost as greedy as Indy politicians, many surrounding county politicians rolled over like dumb dogs. At least one county gave the bird the Indy and Mitch's bribe. A few others did protest, but ultimately ruled in favor of the billionaire bailout to build the colts stadium. Now a new set of billionaires wants a bailout, the $imon$. And even though their company stock price is near 52-week highs, they need more of our money for their NBA team.
Also remember that this would be in addition to the other regional tax being thrown around: Mass transit. I guess they won't be happy until everyone is taxed so much, that they aren't able to spend any money outside of rent, utilities, and vehicles. Then if enough people move away to better areas of the country, Indy can become Detroit South.
Just another reason why I continue to think about fleeing to better areas like Montana, Wyoming, S. Dakota, and Idaho. When you don't have millions of slaves (how our politicians view us) to steal from, you can't have all these silly things like stadiums for billionaires, illogical billion dollar mass transit ideas, etc..
I'm sorry, but I live in Hamilton County and I don't understand why people in Indy's surrounding counties don't think they should help pay for these venues. Just answer this question, where would Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, and Hancock counties be if it was not for the success to downtown Indianapolis? If Indianapolis did not attract anyone, then neither would any of the suburban counties. If you are against a slight tax increase to help pay for venues downtown you are basically saying that you could care less if the convention center, Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and Conseco Fieldhouse are all shut down.
Well, the socialist in Indianapolis have run out of money to line the personal bank accounts of billionaires and six-figure income politically connected elites. Their private-public partnerships must stay bloated and in the black so them, their kids, their friends, and their families can get quasi government jobs that pay at a much higher rate than real government jobs.
As such, the Advance Indiana blog has issued a warning via a Fox 59 report. The political, pro-big, wasteful government spending insiders, politicians, and elites in Indy are once again targeting the surround counties for a regional tax. Most of the elected officials in the surrounding counties quick surrendered after Mitch offered them a bribe: Raise your counties food and beverage taxes by 1%, and you can keep at least .5% for your own budget, and even more if the dollars add up and move beyond a certain threshold. Being almost as greedy as Indy politicians, many surrounding county politicians rolled over like dumb dogs. At least one county gave the bird the Indy and Mitch's bribe. A few others did protest, but ultimately ruled in favor of the billionaire bailout to build the colts stadium. Now a new set of billionaires wants a bailout, the $imon$. And even though their company stock price is near 52-week highs, they need more of our money for their NBA team.
Also remember that this would be in addition to the other regional tax being thrown around: Mass transit. I guess they won't be happy until everyone is taxed so much, that they aren't able to spend any money outside of rent, utilities, and vehicles. Then if enough people move away to better areas of the country, Indy can become Detroit South.
Just another reason why I continue to think about fleeing to better areas like Montana, Wyoming, S. Dakota, and Idaho. When you don't have millions of slaves (how our politicians view us) to steal from, you can't have all these silly things like stadiums for billionaires, illogical billion dollar mass transit ideas, etc..
I'm sorry, but I live in Hamilton County and I don't understand why people in Indy's surrounding counties don't think they should help pay for these venues.
Because they go to benefit a select, elite few, and the own extra benefits are mostly downtown businesses. Why shouldn't Indy citizens be taxed for smaller scale venues in the surrounding counties? In fact, why shouldn't every county in the state get to tax their neighboring residents so that every county can build, based on their population, some sort of special venue? Not only that, we are already paying to build the stadium. Since the City of Indianapolis benefits the most from these venues, shouldn't they at least pay to run them? If this does pass, then where is the taxation representation? Maybe residents out side Indy need to be able to vote for Indy politicians?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wh15395
Just answer this question, where would Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, and Hancock counties be if it was not for the success to downtown Indianapolis?
Downtown is not successful without tax dollars. Downtown is nothing but a last grasp effort to save Marion County. Simple fact is that other companies located in the surrounding counties, regardless of what downtown has to offer. Sallie Mae, the new Roche building, are just a few that come to mind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wh15395
If Indianapolis did not attract anyone, then neither would any of the suburban counties. If you are against a slight tax increase to help pay for venues downtown you are basically saying that you could care less if the convention center, Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and Conseco Fieldhouse are all shut down.
I could careless, I benefit _nothing_ from them. I don't work them part-time, I can't afford to go to them for an event. If the ticket buyers and the current tax isn't enough, then close down the venues. How many buckets of money do you continue to use to try and put out the fire before you realize the fire is out-of-control? Why do these inside elites want to constantly partake in legalized theft via taxation? What is wrong with looking at cuts? What is wrong with asking billionaires to pay their own way?
1.) Downtown venues do not just benefit the people who use them. These venues affect everything from the metro areas property values to new companies relocation to either Indianapolis or the suburban counties. These venues also bring visitors that stay in hotels from downtown to the suburbs. They also eat at suburban restaurants helping our economies.
2.) Do you really believe that without downtown being successful that those companies would be where they are. Yeah I am sure Sallie Mae would be in Fishers still, oh wait, Fishers probably would not exist if it was not for the success of Marion County. You can't have successful suburbs if you do not have a successful core city! By the way you named some companies in the suburbs, what about Eli Lilly, Wellpoint Insurance, and Simon Property Group (all headquartered downtown!)
3.) So you are saying you don't care if the Colts, Pacers, and NCAA all go. Plus you don't care about the economic impact of losing the Superbowl. Not to mention all of the tourism dollars the entire metro area would lose from the convention center closing, plus the companies that wouldn't move here because the community has little to offer. I find it hard to believe many people would agree with this.
Just another reason why I continue to think about fleeing to better areas like Montana, Wyoming, S. Dakota, and Idaho. When you don't have millions of slaves (how our politicians view us) to steal from, you can't have all these silly things like stadiums for billionaires, illogical billion dollar mass transit ideas, etc..
Not sure you'd take too kindly to South Dakota. While urban poverty is low (for the few places South Dakota has that would qualify as cities), the rural areas are filled with impoverished Native American Reservations with a welfare dependency of which nothing in Indiana comes close.
1.) Downtown venues do not just benefit the people who use them. These venues affect everything from the metro areas property values to new companies relocation to either Indianapolis or the suburban counties. These venues also bring visitors that stay in hotels from downtown to the suburbs. They also eat at suburban restaurants helping our economies.
What companies have relocated, or just came to life, in the metro area specifically because of Lucas Oil, the Hoosier Dome, Conseco, or Victory Field?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wh15395
2.) Do you really believe that without downtown being successful that those companies would be where they are. Yeah I am sure Sallie Mae would be in Fishers still, oh wait, Fishers probably would not exist if it was not for the success of Marion County. You can't have successful suburbs if you do not have a successful core city! By the way you named some companies in the suburbs, what about Eli Lilly, Wellpoint Insurance, and Simon Property Group (all headquartered downtown!)
This is totally false. The suburbs of Detroit held on just fine when Detroit went to hell. The need for a strong central core isn't there for Indy. As this is a driving town, businesses can locate anywhere in the metro area and get plenty of applicants who would be more than willing to drive anywhere from 10-30 mins. to get to work. Those companies have a _history_ of being in the city center, as they are fairly old companies. The fact is, even Simon was said to be looking at other options when they were planning their new HQ building. Of course the city had to give them land and a parking garage so they would stay....more corporate bailouts. Also, what major league sports teams caused Lilly, Wellpoint, and Simon to move and locate here?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wh15395
3.) So you are saying you don't care if the Colts, Pacers, and NCAA all go. Plus you don't care about the economic impact of losing the Superbowl. Not to mention all of the tourism dollars the entire metro area would lose from the convention center closing, plus the companies that wouldn't move here because the community has little to offer. I find it hard to believe many people would agree with this.
If I continue to have to pay, then yes, I want them to go. If I don't have to pay, then they can stay. Why is it that they don't have to pay their "fair share," but I am blasted for saying I don't want to pay mine? The Superbowl won't bring in any money...stop believing government, it is a pack of lies. The NFL already gets passes on various taxes. Yes, some already won't be paying their fair share, but you best believe you and I will....or we can go to jail. The convention center has nothing to do with this. The convention center costs is negligible compared to the stadium and bailing out billionaires. Even so, the convention center is doomed anyway. We now have to share FFA. Our largest convention, the racing one, isn't coming back. Gencon declared bankruptcy on a part of their business, who knows if they will stay up and running. Again, what companies up and moved here and didn't ask for any special favors (Tax breaks, tax incentives, property, etc.)? The answer: None. Where is Microsoft facing to relocate to downtown Indy? Apple? Oracle? Exxon?
All the fluff is nothing more than making a select few insiders rich. They spread lies about economic growth. Wake up. If these things cause such growth, why the hell do we constantly need more and more taxation to pay for them? Again, if these stadiums, centers, and buildings bring so much business into the city, why do the politicians constantly need to continue to steal even more money from others to keep these things going. The truth is that the economic benefit is just not there.
I agree the argument can be made that the state is sucking money away from Indy. However, the state also allowed Indy the opportunity to build these things. The reason the state won't give Indy more of the income tax share is exactly related with Indy being able to pull all these people out of their home communities to spend their disposable income in Indy. When 100K people go downtown to watch the monument lighting, a good % of that population might have spent their money in another county doing something else. Indy shouldn't benefit 100% from the sales taxes, but I do agree that they need to get a larger cut than what they get now. Problem is, the general assembly isn't like to want to share. As such, the surrounding counties, instead of all 92 counties, are targeted for another tax.
The more I have to give to government, the less I give to charity and the less I tip when out (if they tax food and beverage). I won't spend the $1 to drive and drop-off clothing to Goodwill. Instead, I will either sell that clothing to profit myself, or throw it into the trash. No more giving canned food away either...sounds like these things should be a function of government, so they need to raise taxes even more if there is a clothing, jobs, and food need.
Not sure you'd take too kindly to South Dakota. While urban poverty is low (for the few places South Dakota has that would qualify as cities), the rural areas are filled with impoverished Native American Reservations with a welfare dependency of which nothing in Indiana comes close.
I would be living in the Rapid City area if I ended up moving there. I have been there, nice area. Not big enough to rape people for billion dollar spending sprees to bailout billionaires.
Rave ... I'd highly suggest you seriously consider moving sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, with professional sports, comes big prices. Do I agree? Nope ... not one bit. But when it appears that one is losing sleep over something that, to be honest, you really have no control over, I think it's time to cash in the chips and move on. And to bandy about the word, socialism, is so August teabagger rally. Write to your legislators, protest in the streets, but the fact of the matter is this ... the Irsay and Simon families hold much much sway in the city of Indianapolis ... that's the fact of the matter. If the city doens't bend to their wishes, well, they can take their billion dollar balls and take them elsewhere, like Rapid City ... see, like it or not, the Simons and Irsays have put Indianapolis on the proverbial tourist map for this state. And you can bet that there would be another city that would give the families the city on a platter if they announced that Indiana just isn't being nice. Again, I'm neither a Colts or pacers fan, but I get it and I get why the city and collar counties would suffer if they left.
__________________
If there won't be dancing at the revolution, I'm not coming.
Emma Goldman
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Warning: Indy politicans conspiring for another regional tax grab.
