Setting the Record Straight

Ballard promised to apply the Broken Windows Theory and clean up the appearance of blighted neighborhoods in Marion County. This includes promptly dealing with abandoned homes that breed crime in our neighborhoods. 2007 Greg Ballard’s 5 Point Plan to Fight Crime

FACT: Despite touting his “plan” for nearly four years, Mayor Ballard has not implemented programs to deal with abandoned homes in Marion County, failing to address issues in a timely manner, letting existing programs falter, and allowing crime and drugs to take hold of many of our neighborhoods.

• Mayor Ballard has made no attempt to catalog abandoned homes in Indianapolis.  The inventory of abandoned houses on the Indy.gov website is from 2003, 5 years before Ballard took office.
• In 2008, Ballard touted an abandoned housing program to take houses that failed to sell at the county tax sale and try to sell them from the City’s “Land Bank.”  Peterson started the “Land Bank” in 2006 and successfully lobbied the state legislature in 2006-2007 to reduce the number of tax sales at which a house must fail to sell before the county takes them from 2 tax sales to 1 tax sale.
• Despite reports that there are well over 9,000 abandoned homes in the city, the “Land Bank” lists only 45 properties (0.005% of the city-wide totals) Indianapolis Star, June 20, 2011 
• Ballard has had more financial resources to address the issue than any mayor in Indy history - at least $29 million - with no results to show for it.
• Another broken promise from Mayor Ballard.

Ballard promised to support a stronger county smoking ban. Indianapolis Star, October 28, 2009

FACT: Ballard personally lobbied to kill stronger smoking ban in Republican behind-closed-doors meeting prior to the City-County Council vote.  Indianapolis Star, October 28, 2009; Star editorial 12/2/09.

Ballard promised to cut $70 Million of so-called "fluff" from 2007 city budget levels or not seek reelection. 2007 Ballard Campaign Website Issues/Fiscal Accountability

FACT: Mayor Ballard has not cut $70 Million from the non-public safety budget from the 2008 budget he criticized.  The non-public safety portion of the budget still has increased $31 million or as much as $56 million if criminal justice funding counts.

• Mayor Ballard has not cut $70 Million from the non-public safety budget from the 2008 budget he criticized.
• The 2008 budget passed by the council was $1,108,476,749 (2008 Budget Executive Summary, pp. 19 and 20).  Mayor Ballard's 2011 budget as passed by the City-County Council was $1,162,386,425 – or nearly $54 million more (2011 Budget Book, p.2).  The non-public safety portion of the budget has increased nearly $31 million, instead of being decreased by $70 million. (2011 Budget Book, p. 3; 2008 Public Safety and Criminal Justice (IMPD, IFD, Police Pensions, Fire Pensions, DPS Director’s Office, DPS Emergency Planning, Forensic Services, Coroner, MECA)).
• Important Note: the 2008 City-County budget included $100,000,000 for Child Services that the City no longer pays, but Ballard’s 2011 budget is still $54 million larger than 2008— $31 million (57%) of which is going to new non-public safety spending.

Ballard promised to prohibit lobbyists from serving on board or commissions that directly affect lobbying or financial interests. 2007 Ballard Campaign Website News/Ballard Proposes Ethics Reform

FACT:  In one of his first moves, Ballard appointed Pacers lobbyist Bob Grand to lead CIB. Indianapolis Star February 2, 2008.

Ballard promised to increase number of beat police officers by 750 officers.

Ballard said he would:

• Spend $85 Million LOIT Revenue on FBI recommended police officer staffing levels (increase of 750 officers).  2007 Ballard Campaign Website News/Ballard calls on Mayor for more cops.
• Drop Super Bowl until police shortage solved. 2007 Ballard Campaign Website News/Ballard Says “No Bowl Bid Until We Solve Police Shortage”

FACT:   No increase in officers, high crime levels persist and dysfunction abounds.

• No new officers.  “Taxpayers taken for a ride over public safety pledge” (Mayor Ballard has not even increased level of cops to number Mayor Peterson promised as initial reason for LOIT increase) Indianapolis Star, Sept. 5, 2008;
• 2011 budget cuts a police officer recruiting class. “Tough cutbacks mark city budget preview” (Mayor cuts police recruiting class).  Indianapolis Star, Aug. 23, 2010.

Ballard promised he would cut Mayor’s Office staff and institute a hiring freeze. 2007 Ballard Campaign Website Issues/Fiscal Responsibility

FACT:    In 2008, Ballard hired the same number of deputy mayors and staff spending was 8% more for them.

• In  March of 2008, Ballard had hired the same number of deputy mayors and staff, and he spent 8% more for them.  This was the last time comprehensive staff salary information was published by the Indianapolis Star.  Indianapolis Star, March 8, 2008.
• November 2008, Mayor Ballard raised salaries of all 4,000 non-union city employees.  WISH TV online November 26, 2008 http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/City_employees_to_receive_pay_raise
• For the 2011 budget, Ballard has also hired and will pay a public safety director whose salary and staff salaries cost taxpayers $1.2 million annually.

In 2007, Ballard promised to eliminate the taxing authority of unelected boards. 2007 Ballard Campaign Website Issues/Local Government Reform.

FACT:     Mayor Ballard has not eliminated taxing authority of any unelected board and, in fact, Ballard proposes to transfer water and sewer utility districts to the unelected Board of Public Utilities (dba Citizens Energy Group) which has its own tax raising and rate raising authority.  And the Metropolitan Development Commission diverted $8 Million of property tax money to unelected CIB for the first time.

• Did not eliminate taxing authority of any unelected board;
• In fact, Ballard proposes to transfer water and sewer utility districts to the most untouchable, unelected city board (Citizens Energy/Dept. of Public Utilities) which has its own rate raising AND tax raising powers.  Indiana Code § 8-1-11.-1 et seq. (specifically see I.C. § 8-1-11.1-10 “Tax Levy to Pay for Bonds”)

The unelected, Metropolitan Development Commission, of which 7 of the 9 members are appointed by Ballard and his Republican Council, diverted $6 Million of property tax money to the unelected Capital Improvement Board for the first time.  Indianapolis Star online “CIB budget proves hard sell before council, http://www.indystar.com/article/20101012/LOCAL18/10120320/CIB-budget-proves-a-hard-sell-before-council, October 12, 2010.

Ballard promised to end “country club politics” just before taking over as Mayor. November 7, 2007 Victory Speech

FACT:       Ballard has accepted free memberships to two Indianapolis country clubs and provided a police car to a third country club owner who was a campaign contributor.

• Accepted free memberships to two Indianapolis country clubs. Greg Ballard 2009 and 2010 Statements of Economic Interest.
• Provided a police car to a third country club owner and campaign contributor. Fox 59 "Police Car parked at country club sparks concern," http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-police-car-controversy-102209,0,7304522.story, October 22, 2009.

Ballard promised to work to abolish property taxes and to spend 60% of $90 Million Local Option Income Tax increase on property tax relief.

FACT:       Ballard has not made any push to eliminate property taxes from the Indiana Constitution, and Ballard and his City-County Council have not spent any new income tax revenue to independently lower property taxes in Marion County.

Candidate Greg Ballard said he would work to abolish property taxes. Indianapolis Star, Aug 6, 2007

2007 Ballard Campaign Website News/Greg Ballard calls for measures to ease the burden of Marion County property tax increases.

After all this time, it still hasn't happened.