- Moderator
- #21
Matthew Tully: Indy's budget crunch offers opportunity to have serious discussion about public safety | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
The GOP mayor of Indianapolis took a stand and said police and fire are gonna have to take a slashing on behalf of Indy's broken budget. Is it necessary? Article said non-fatal violent crime (stabbings, assaults, etc) are up, murders are down, and the Indy PD is woefully understaffed already.
The summary:
Indy PD and FD are unionized. They likely have far better pay/benefits than the non-union depts of the South, so I understand they've had it pretty good for a while.
Artical says a property tax increase of 0.2 %, thats right, two/tenths of a percent, would fix the entire shortfall.
But rather than support the 0.2% increase (which is $200 for a 100K earner), the mayor wants to look to the cops and firemen to make ends meet.
Right? Wrong? Well, it is union, and I know they've made far more than "normal" for cops nationwide.
But the problem is.......everytime a mayor like this takes a stand to cut police/fire, there are dozens of GOP mayors in NON UNION cities that dont have the crippling union contracts that some others do....who believe this is a valid reason for them to also cut police and fire, even if it isn't necessary for their city.
It's slowly become a well accepted trend in the Tea Party/GOP circles that putting cops and firemen on the govt chopping block is A-OK!!!! Necessary or not.
Instead of acting like the insufferable whining dickbag that you've been for the past week, how about you take the time to do some research and answer your own damn questions, like how much are the cops and firemen making now? What are they contributing to their benefits and retirement? What are the property tax rates in Indianapolis already? What other cuts has the city already made?
You don't even live there so who are you do judge the actions they are taking when you know little about their situation?