Indiana $1.2 Billion In Black, Auditor Says

The Indy Channel ^ | July 14, 2011 | The Indy Channel

[Azeem]

"Without raising taxes and by carefully watching spending, Indiana state government has continued to live within its means," Berry said. "For those who believe that raising taxes is the only way out of a fiscal crisis, I say take a look at the Hoosier state."

[Azeem]

Imagine that! We cut wasteful spending/programs, don't spend more than we have, don't raise taxes...and the state now has more money than it did last year.

[VanDeKoik]

Didn’t the unions try to bully that state too?

[Michael.SF.]

Why is it fair that some states get to be in the black while others are broke? Obviously we need to spread this excessive wealth from a obscenely rich state like Indiana and give some of it to those states that simply cannot fend for themselves through no fault of their own, like Kalifornia.

/s

[WOBBLY BOB]

Standard Statist reply: “Yeah, but who wants to live in Indiana? they don’t have (insert State program) like we do here in (insert high tax State). “

[tcrlaf]

They tried, and they lost...
Dem senators fled the state, too, and they lost, as well.

Hoosiers don’t put up with that kind of nonsense very well.

[KarlInOhio]

Shhhhhh! Don't be so loud about it, Indiana. You have Illinois to the west, Ohio to the east and Michigan to the north who will be dropping by for a visit and to steal your lockbox.

[Azeem]

As a former citizen of the Banana Dictatorship of Kalifornia, the only thing I want from there are the fleeing businesses.

[cripplecreek]

If we keep going the way we are in Michigan we won’t need to steal anybody’s lockbox. Now we’re looking at tax cuts as a means of raising revenue.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2748457/posts

[sunmars]

regardless of what anyone thinks, looks like Mitch Daniels is running that place quite well and shhhhhhhhh the illinois thugs will be down trying to rob you, now if they could off load the crap living in Gary, they’d be even better.

[bagadonutz]

Great news! - welcome ‘back home in Indiana’ Azeem!

It’s amazing all the infrastructue going up in the state now that we have our financial house in order. Just wish the west side of Indy’s I-465 could finally get done!

[ScottinVA]

Amazing! Hmm.. same thing’s happening here in VA... and WI.. and (soon) NJ.

Isn’t that weird.... Now what would their commonality be? Hmmmmm....

[CPT Clay]

Budget cuts work!

[sunmars]

That would be dimbulbs not running the place.

[The Louiswu]

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but why is the state allowed to have more money that it needs? Shouldn't that money come back to the tax payers? Why not collect exactly what you need and no more?

Sorry if this seems like dumb questions.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

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[A message]

I was in Indiana two weeks in June. News reports on the radio station I listened to steadily reported instances of job creation such as the expansion of the Cummins campus in Columbus, Indiana and Vera Bradley adding jobs in FT Wayne.

Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor was quoted as saying that because of Indiana’s stable tax situation that made Indiana attractive to businesses.

Go figure.

[CORedneck]

I am from Indiana and what I remember. Back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s, we had a democrat governor - Evan Bayh. THe state lost its surplus and he was pushing real hard to get the Indiana General Assembly to go full time “professional” like CA, IL and OH. That didn’t go over too well ! Also a balance budget is required as well by Indiana constitution. Something that needs to be adopted at Federal level

> Standard Statist reply: “Yeah, but who wants to live in Indiana? they don’t have (insert State program) like we do here in (insert high tax State). “

[AFreeBird]

What, you don’t think it’s a good idea to keep some money in the bank to deal with unexpected expenses? I’d rather we do that, than have to go borrow money, or raise taxes.

[Azeem]

“Why not collect exactly what you need and no more?”

You never want the state to have $0 in the bank account. That is how you run deficits. Revenue streams are not consistent. They can plan all they want but in reality, the numbers can be off. This time, they were 40% off but in a good way.

Indiana, under Mitch Daniels, has tried to keep $1 billion in reserve. A few years ago, when the economy first turned sour, the Dems wanted Daniels to use that extra $1 billion immediately. He said no and we are lucky he did. It’s been useful in some of the state budget shortfalls the last two years.

[The Louiswu]

If it were me, my money and a bank, of course I would see ti that way. But in this case it is a government body, my money and they are taking more than they need. If the state comes across unexpected expenses they can always raise my taxes or even ask for donations, I don't see why they get to keep my money, returning no interest (as a bank would) and I don't get a say in the matter. It just does not seem right.

Like I said, I'm happy that Indiana is done well (I live here, but still unemployed) things seem to be looking up a bit. I would rather hang on to my money than have someone else look after it, I know I'm responsible, I can only hope that they are.