Finally! The 2008 City of Indianapolis Budget

Finally, as of 8:30 am this morning, we have access to the City of Indianapolis' budget. It is about a 500 page volume. You can print it yourself or you can call the city and pay a fee for them to print it for you.

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Chris Spangle reported this morning on WXNT AM1430 that a suspicious line item on the Executive Summary (page 9, Character 03) was $297,728 in the 2005 revised budget ballooned to a whopping $64,442,233 in the 2008 budget. The line item in question is listed as "other". City councilor, Ike Randolph, says that it is likely a lot of hidden high dollar 'consulting' fees. He questioned that line item too.

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You will recall that in May Melyssa Donaghy reported a conversation with city councilor and finance committee member, Jackie Nytes, in which she adamantly denied that waste or taxpayer abuse existed in city government. We understand her husband's company has a million dollar printing contract with the city.
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The public hearing for the 2008 budget is on Monday August 27th. That gives us more than two weeks to study the proposed budget and fill the city council auditorium with a few hundred tax payers (that is if they will let us in our own meeting room).
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Below are the links to download the budget. You can also pull up old budgets for comparison. The new budget is divided into sections. If you want the city print a copy (for a fee) call the controller's office at (317) 327-2198. They are very helpful.
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2008 PROPOSED BUDGET - The City of Indianapolis
Prepared by Robert Clifford, City Controller

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Executive Summary
Administration & Finance
Community Affairs
Department of Metropolitan Development
Department of Public Works
Department of Parks and Recreation
Public Safety & Criminal Justice
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UPDATE: The city controller's office reported that you can drop off (or mail) a check to the City County Building, Suite 2222 in the amount of $16.28 and they will give you a printed copy of the entire 407 page proposed budget. The proposed budget can change from day to day and as changes are made they will add revisions to the city website.