Loading ...
VAN BOKKELEN TO HEAR EARLY VOTE SITE CASE: Republicans and Democrats in Lake County are taking their battle over early voting satellite sites to court (Associated Press).
Democrats want to set up satellite voting centers in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago so that voters can go there to cast ballots before the election, but Republicans oppose the idea. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen scheduled a hearing Thursday on a Republican request for a temporary restraining order to stop the satellite offices from opening. If the judge does not grant the restraining order, Democrats plan to open the voting sites Friday. The Democratic-controlled Lake County Election Board voted 3-2 on Sept. 23 to allow early voting at the Clerk’s Offices. Both Republicans voted against the move, and the party says such a motion would have required an unanimous vote. Republican attorney David Brooks of Indianapolis said it would be unfair to allow the county to open satellite offices. “The implication here is that citizens in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago - heavily Democratic areas - have some right citizens in Hamilton County, for instance - a heavily Republican area - do not,” Brooks said.
McCAIN CAMPAIGN CALLS OBAMA FRIEND OF TERRORIST: Sen. John McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama’s character, believing that to win in November they must shift the conversation back to questions about the Democrat’s judgment, honesty and personal associations, several top Republicans said…Before the bailout crisis, aides said, McCain was succeeding in focusing attention on Obama’s record and character. Now, they say, he must return to those subjects. “We are looking for a very aggressive last 30 days,” said Greg Strimple, one of McCain’s top advisers. “We are looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis…” Obama responded, “On a day after we learned that America lost three-quarters of a million jobs this year and a week after our financial system teetered on the brink of collapse, John McCain and his campaign have announced that they want to ‘turn the page’ on the economic crisis facing working families and spend the last month of this election launching dishonest, dishonorable character attacks against Barack Obama. We understand that it’s not easy for John McCain to defend the worst economic record of our lifetime, but he will have to explain to the people struggling to pay their bills and stay in their homes why he would rather spend his time tearing down Barack Obama than laying out a plan to build up our economy,” said Obama-Biden Spokesman Bill Burton. (Howey Politics Indiana)
SELZER POLL HAD McCAIN LEADING LAKE COUNTY: In July, Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama made a surprising move by announcing he would open more than 30 campaign offices in historically Red State Indiana (Grimm, Post-Tribune). Three months later, Republican Sen. John McCain made an even more shocking move, announcing he, too, would open offices across the state. His Lake and Porter county offices opened Saturday, in Portage and Valparaiso. Both moves are largely unprecedented, as Republicans and Democrats alike typically ignore Indiana — a state that had gone to the Republican candidate in every presidential race since 1964. Most national polls show Obama in a near deadlock with McCain statewide, and a handful show him leading. And if Obama is the first Democrat to win Indiana in 44 years, Northwest Indiana — specifically Lake County — would help whisk him to victory. “No Democrat has ever won a statewide office in Indiana without winning Lake County with large pluralities,” said Gary Mayor Rudy Clay, who, in his role as county Democratic Party chairman, drew criticism for delays in tallying votes in the June primary between Obama and Hillary Clinton. “I’m glad it’s a battleground state, because we here in Indiana are not battle-fatigued,” Clay said. “We are going to work very hard to get people to the polls.” Lake County has been a reliable source of votes for statewide Democratic candidates, with a 50,000-vote plurality considered the range needed for a Democrat to overcome losses elsewhere in the state. John Kerry won Lake County by just under 40,000 votes in 2004. In 2000, Al Gore pulled 43,000 more votes than Bush. Neither won the state. Curiously, an Indianapolis Star/WTHR poll conducted in late September showed Obama beating McCain 47 percent to 43 in Indiana — with Northwest Indiana voters favoring McCain. Pollster Ann Selzer was one of a few to accurately pick the winners of the Iowa Caucuses this year and predict a loss for seemingly popular Indianapolis mayor Bart Peterson. Her methodology factors more heavily the voting proclivities of minority and young voters, who she feels will be out in force in this election and who tend to be undercounted by more traditional polling. “This is not an election where I think you can easily look to the past and say, ‘This is what we think is the future,’ ” Selzer said. “When the presidential baton is passed to Lake County, I do believe we will be behind,” Clay said. “But if we do our job like we’re supposed to, I believe we’ll be able to pile on enough votes to win the race.”
DOMINGUEZ SAYS IT WON’T BE CLOSE: Selzer stood by her numbers for Northwest Indiana, where the Star/WTHR poll had likely voters favoring McCain 45.6 percent to Obama’s 41.4 (Post-Tribune). Sheriff Roy Dominguez, an Obama supporter, said the counties to the east would have to produce a sizeable vote for McCain to overcome the Democratic turnout in Lake County. “No one I talk to in the county is talking about it even being close,” Dominguez said. “What we’re wondering is if there could be a 70,000- to 90,000-vote plurality for Obama.”
Indiana Governor
BELIEVE THE POLLS? Depending on which poll you believe, Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels is either about to lap Democratic opponent Jill Long Thompson or is in a neck-and-neck race for the state’s top office (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette). The majority of polling done in the race has consistently shown Daniels to be well ahead. For instance, a poll by Virginia-based Public Opinion Strategies released last week surveyed 600 likely voters in Indiana and Daniels had a commanding lead – 54 percent to 32 percent for Long Thompson. The poll was sponsored by the Indiana Association of Realtors and was in the field Monday and Tuesday. But a second poll – taken on those same days of 600 likely voters in Indiana – showed Daniels clinging to a slim lead – 47 percent to Long Thompon’s 46 percent. This poll was conducted by Maryland-based Research 2000 on behalf of the South Bend Tribune and WSBT. The only other public poll showing a tight race was done several weeks ago by the Indianapolis Star. “We never navigate by polls, and we don’t spend a lot of time focusing on independent polls, … because they never give you the details, so it’s hard to parse them,” said Cam Savage, spokesman for the Daniels campaign. “It’s encouraging that all of them show us ahead. I think the important thing over the next five weeks is to continue to positively share the governor’s message and vision for the future.” Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne said statistics show polls are flat-out wrong one out of every 20 times and a lot of the variation depends on how the questions are asked and whom the pollsters surveyed. For instance, some base their interviews on voter registration lists and others do a general population survey that later asks whether the person is registered and likely to vote. He also noted that the recent disparate polling in the governor’s race is even more interesting because those same polls give similar results in the presidential race. “It’s really very odd,” Downs said. “But voters should be paying attention to the candidates, not the polls.”
STAR REVIVES DST ISSUE: Two days before voters go to the polls to pick Indiana’s next governor, they’ll have to turn back their clocks an hour as daylight saving time comes to an end for the year (Schneider, Indianapolis Star). For Gov. Mitch Daniels, who pushed the controversial time change through the legislature during his first year in office, the timing couldn’t be worse. Though tempers have cooled since 2005, and a growing number of Hoosiers now say the time switch was good for the state, the issue remains potent for many voters and, for at least some, will be a factor in how they cast their ballots. A recent Indianapolis Star-WTHR (Channel 13) poll found that 36 percent of people who plan to vote think it’s been bad for the state, while 48 percent approve of it. For Daniels, that’s an improvement from a year ago, when 43 percent thought the time change had been bad for the state, with 44 percent deeming it good. Those who don’t like the time change are more likely to back Daniels’ opponent, Democrat Jill Long Thompson. The poll found that, of those who think the change was bad for the state, 47 percent are backing Long Thompson for governor, with 35 percent supporting Daniels. Kay Davidson, a 58-year-old Columbia City woman, said she voted for Daniels four years ago and won’t do so again. “Never,” she vowed.Daylight saving time is one reason why.
JLT WOULD STOP PREDATORY LENDING: Jill Long Thompson would ban predatory lending and require borrowers and lenders to negotiate mortgages in danger of foreclosure, the Democratic candidate for governor said here Thursday (Ronco, South Bend Tribune). Long Thompson, who is running against Gov. Mitch Daniels, spoke to reporters at St. Joseph County Democratic Headquarters. Under Long Thompson’s plan, borrowers and lenders would have to go through court-ordered negotiations before a home is foreclosed upon. “Generally, it is not in the best interest of the lender or the borrower to have a foreclosure situation,” Long Thompson said. Her plan also would ban “predatory” loans based on inflated appraisals, unrealistic assumptions about the borrower’s income, or exorbitant interest rates — including adjustable interest rates. And Long Thompson would seek to give borrowers more time to make payments after foreclosure complaints are filed in court. Long Thompson pointed to a study from the Pew Charitable Trusts that said in the next two years, one in 37 Hoosier homeowners is expected to be in foreclosure. And she said Daniels has “sat by and done nothing to address these issues or help working people avoid foreclosure.”
Presidential
OBAMA TO CAMPAIGN AT STATE FAIRGROUNDS: Barack Obama returns to Indiana for a sixth time since the Indiana primary with a 12:15 p.m. Wednesday rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. (Howey Politics Indiana)
OBAMA CAMPAIGNS STOKES EARLY VOTING: Monday, Oct. 6, on the first day of early voting in Indiana, Obama supporters Hungry for Change will take their lunch break to vote early for Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates in this historic election. Prominent Obama supporters and community leaders will discuss how Hoosiers can vote early beginning Monday and then head over to the local county clerk’s office to vote in Anderson, Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Marion, Muncie, New Albany, Richmond, South Bend and Terre Haute. Beginning Monday, any Hoosier who is registered to vote can cast their ballot early at their local county clerk’s office or other approved early voting location. To find local early voting locations, dates and times, Hoosiers can go to www.voteforchange.com. (Howey Politics Indiana)
BIRCH BAYH TO CAMPAIGN FOR OBAMA IN TERRE HAUTE: Former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh will visit Greencastle, Brazil and Terre Haute, encouraging early voting and discussing the Obama-Biden plans to jumpstart the economy, put Hoosiers back to work, provide tax breaks for working families, and rebuild an economy that works for the middle class. Bayh will also be the featured speaker at the Obama Campaign for Change office opening in Martinsville, bringing the total number of offices across the state to 40. Following the opening, local Obama supporters will “march” over to the Morgan County Clerk’s office to early vote. (Howey Politics Indiana)
SEN. BAYH TO FILL IN FOR BIDEN: former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh will visit Greencastle, Brazil and Terre Haute, encouraging early voting and discussing the Obama-Biden plans to jumpstart the economy, put Hoosiers back to work, provide tax breaks for working families, and rebuild an economy that works for the middle class. Bayh will also be the featured speaker at the Obama Campaign for Change office opening in Martinsville, bringing the total number of offices across the state to 40. Following the opening, local Obama supporters will “march” over to the Morgan County Clerk’s office to early vote. (Howey Politics Indiana)
FISHER TO JOIN MICHELLE OBAMA AT DEBATE: The Obama-Biden campaign announced that local International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAWA) and military family member, Mike Fisher will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, October 7th to attend the second presidential debate as the guest of Michelle Obama. Fisher, who works as an Amtrak machinist, saw his worksite lay off employees but his job was saved. Mike and his wife Cheryl have been married for 32 years and have three adult children, one grandson and two grandchildren on the way. Cheryl works as a technologist in the Breast Center at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis; she was also invited to attend tonight’s debate but could not due to work and the pending birth of their youngest daughter, Abby’s baby. Mike and Cheryl are also proud military parents because Abby’s husband will return from Army National Guard training this week and may be deployed to Iraq this fall. Fisher said, “I’ve been a machinist with Amtrak for more than 20 years. I am thankful that I didn’t lose my job but it was a real stress on my family for a long time. There are just too many Hoosiers facing challenges like ours and many of their jobs are leaving the country. Barack and Michelle grew up dealing with the same challenges most of us face. They were raised by working folks, and it’s pretty clear that he can relate to working people and those who are struggling. I trust Barack Obama to do the right thing for all of us and that’s why he’s my choice for president.” the Obama-Biden campaign announced that local International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAWA) and military family member, Mike Fisher will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, October 7th to attend the second presidential debate as the guest of Michelle Obama.
Indiana General Assembly
RDA TO COMPLY WITH DOBIS REQUEST: State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, is requesting that the Regional Development Authority ask some hard questions of the Regional Bus Authority about why it’s running out of money (Post-Tribune). Since 2006, the RDA has granted the RBA $9 million. That funding, slated to last for two years, will run out at the end of 2009, leaving the bus agency without any money to continue operating. The plan was for the RBA to find a source of permanent funding during those two years so that it could run on its own, but so far that hasn’t happened. Dobis sent a letter recently to the board members of the RDA, with copies sent to state lawmakers in Lake and Porter counties. The letter asked the RDA to call for “a complete public audit” of the RBA “to enable our legislative delegation … to make other decisions going forward.” Leigh Morris, chairman of the RDA, said that he intended to comply with Dobis’ request. “Rep. Dobis has important questions and it’s important that they be answered openly and honestly,” Morris said.
TINCHER-HEATON RACE PROFILED: Democrats have had a stronghold in the Indiana House District 46 for more than two decades, but Republicans have won the seat twice since 1994 (Greninger, Terre Haute Tribune-Star). The Nov. 4 election is a match-up of experience versus a call for change. Incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher, D-Riley, touts his experience, serving 22 of the past 26 years as the district representative. He lost in 1994 to David Lohr, a former Vigo County GOP chairman, and in 2002 to Brooks LaPlante, a Vigo County businessman. Republican challenger Robert Heaton, 52, said people want a change, a measure Heaton says is needed in the House district long held by Tincher, 72. Tincher, retired, served 22 years in the Indiana State Police and worked as a bricklayer, later becoming a union representative. He said Indiana must address funding for worker unemployment compensation. He also advocates for a state illegal immigration law. Heaton, owner of Heaton Financial Services, which sells insurance and mutual funds, said government policy should not weaken families, adding that he is a pro-life advocate. He said the Indiana General Assembly needs to be responsive to voters. Heaton may be best-known for playing basketball with future NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird on the 1979 Indiana State University team that went to the NCAA championship, falling to Magic Johnson’s Michigan State team. Heaton was known for two “miracle-man” shots that won games against New Mexico State and Arkansas. Both candidates favor a constitutional amendment in the 2009 Indiana General Assembly for property tax caps, which then would require a statewide voter referendum in 2010. Heaton favors school vouchers, giving parents ability to select a school. Tincher opposes vouchers, saying as property taxes are removed, public school districts may face funding hardships. Tincher said a representative must work for his elected district. “I believe I am an independent, experienced thinker that does what is in the best interest of the district, rather than what the governor wants,” Tincher said. “I have always been an independent thinker. When Evan Bayh was governor and he created the Family and Social Services Administration, I thought t was too large and a bad idea, and I was one of three Democrats that voted no. In fact, I think it is still a bad idea, too big.”
MORE ON GAS PRICE PROBE: State lawmakers want some answers about gasoline prices (Associated Press). A commission made up of Indiana House and Senate members plans to hold a hearing at the Statehouse Wednesday to examine gasoline pricing policies in Indiana. The Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy is inviting representatives of the petroleum industry, local distributors, consumers and the state attorney general, who investigates consumer complaints. The public can also attend the meeting, although the agenda states that testimony will only be taken from those invited. Leaders in the Indiana House and Senate requested that the commission take up the gas price issue. Commission chair Peggy Welch, a Democrat from Bloomington, said pump prices seem to change on an hourly basis and can vary wildly between nearby gas stations. “There is enough uncertainty and fear out there that I feel we are being responsible public citizens by asking representatives of the various industries involved in this situation to come before a body of elected officials and explain what is going on out there,” Welch said. Gas prices jumped to more than $5 a gallon in some areas of the country - and topped $4 a gallon in Indiana - after Hurricane Ike came ashore in September, causing some Gulf Coast refineries to temporarily close. Indiana gas prices reached a record high on July 17, when a gallon of regular unleaded averaged $4.11, according to the AAA Hoosier Motor Club. The tax commission, which includes both Democrats and Republicans, plans to meet 10 a.m. Wednesday in Room 404 of the Statehouse.
Counties
LaPORTE ASSESSOR SUED BY FORMER TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL: Another lawsuit is being filed against La Porte County Assessor Carol McDaniel, this time for alleged illegal hiring practices (Michigan City News-Dispatch). The suit is being filed by Phyllis Schuster, Michigan Township chief deputy assessor, who found out Thursday she didn’t get the second of two jobs she applied for in the county assessor’s office. Schuster was notified by Joyce Leon, county human resources director, who refused to comment on personnel issues other than to say, “The people who were hired were qualified.”La Porte County Attorney Shaw Friedman said he would not comment until he had seen legal papers. McDaniel filled two positions in mid-July with applicants who didn’t live in the county, even though the applicant pool included qualified candidates who, like Schuster, were already working for the county. County policy states qualified internal candidates are to be considered first, ahead of outside candidates. Schuster applied for a Level II assessor opening because she could potentially lose her township job in November, if voters decide to do away with the Michigan Township Assessor. She has the required credentials, with a Level II Indiana assessor certification as well as an Indiana tax representative certification. She has held her township position for nearly 10 years and has received positive job reviews. During a job interview with McDaniel, Schuster said, “Carol asked me why I didn’t go and be a tax representative,” Schuster said. “I told her I didn’t want to have my own business.” Instead of hiring Schuster, McDaniel changed the Level II position to an information deputy position and awarded the job to Kathy Mason, a Level I assessor from Porter County. “I thought I had a fairly good relationship with her,” Schuster said of McDaniel. “Evidently I didn’t have what it takes.”
KARRAS SAYS ASSESSOR CONSOLIDATION ‘FLIRTING WITH DISASTER’: Lake County Assessor Paul Karras wants nothing to do with the township assessing duties that Gov. Mitch Daniels wants to confer on him through a Nov. 4 ballot referendum (Dolan, Times of Northwest Indiana). “The state Legislature is flirting with disaster,” he said last week when asked how he will vote on eliminating six Lake County township assessors and consolidating their duties with his office. “Retain township assessors? I have to say 100 percent yes.” Karras said the governor’s proposal is flawed because his office cannot give the same personal service as the six township officials, four or whom are fellow Democrats and two Republicans. “Where are the cost savings? The budget would be the same, so what is the sense of combing everything under the county umbrella?” he asked. However, Porter County Assessor John Scott supports township assessors’ elimination, even though he was Portage Township assessor himself for 16 years. Porter County’s Center and Portage township assessors are up for elimination Nov. 4. Some 10 other rural township assessors were automatically eliminated in summer, and Scott said that has been good for the county. “In the two years I’ve been county assessor, we’ve had a lot of problems crop up because there isn’t total cooperation between the county and the townships. The 10 we took over now seem to be working very smoothly,” Scott said. “The township assessors want to do it their own way because they are elected officials, but that creates a problem for our getting our certification downstate to get our tax rates and everything else. The Realtors, the chambers of commerce and the farmers want the buck to really stop with one person.”
VIGO OPENING SATELLITE VOTING SITES: Indiana has about 540,000 new or updated voter registrations since January, and Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita predicts a 65-percent turnout of registered voters on Nov. 4. That would be the largest voter turnout since 1992 (Terre Haute Tribune-Star). And Vigo County voters can start casting absentee ballots Monday for the Nov. 4 general election. Satellite voting sites are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays at The Meadows, Southland Shopping Center and Plaza North, and Mondays through Fridays at Indiana State University’s Cunningham Memorial Library. All sites will be closed Oct. 13 in observance of Columbus Day. ISU’s site also will close Oct. 10 during the university’s fall break.
NEW PORTER GOP HQ: Brian Steele of Portage stepped briskly out the door of Porter County Republican headquarters holding a load of large signs against his side with one arm (Post-Tribune). Then he stopped and turned back. “Can I have a few for other people?” he asked the volunteer at the front desk. At the open house for the GOP office on Lincolnway, the word on everyone’s lips for the beginning of candidate yard sign season Saturday was “energized.” “We’ve got 800 signs already out. It wasn’t like this in 2004″ said County Chairman Chuck Williams, as workers slipped plastic banners over metal frames and stacked them against the wall behind him. “We just got them, 1,200 McCain/Palin signs,” said county coordinator Valarie Kubacki. An initial shipment of 500 McCain-only signs was snapped up when he announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, Kubacki said.
Cities
GRIFFITH COUNCIL BACKS ASSESSOR REFERENDUM: The momentum in town to leave Calumet Township is stronger than ever, and residents might see their wish granted sooner than they ever thought (Post-Tribune). When voters take to the polls next month, they’ll have the opportunity to vote on a referendum that would transfer all township duties to their respective County Assessor’s office. If passed, the referendum will eliminate six townships in Lake County and two in Porter County. At a recent meeting, the Griffith Town Council voted 3-2 to throw its support behind the referendum, though it’s not exactly the way Town Council President Rick Ryfa would’ve liked to see it shake out. “It’s a start and at least takes over the gross mismanagement of taxpayer funds out of incompetent hands,” Ryfa said, referring to Calumet Township, of which Griffith pays into yet has no board representation. “It has the potential of not only helping Griffith, but the residents of Gary as well.” Prior to the referendum, crafted so that voters would get to decide the fates of the remaining assessors in the state, Griffith would’ve had to take a more complicated — and all but impossible — route of seceding from Calumet Township. Via House Bill 1362 of 2006, voters would need to cast ballots on whether a town could secede from a township. Then, should the town want to enter a different township, that township’s voters would have to vote on a separate referendum to allow them in.
GARY PD EDGY AFTER INDICTMENTS: When the most well-known, often-quoted, highly decorated officer on the Gary Police Department was indicted on federal charges, his co-workers feared someday they, too, could be targets of a prosecutor (Post-Tribune). Although Lt. Thomas Branson and Sgt. Thomas Decanter were acquitted, many rank-and-file officers still worry. Some said they fear a misstep will lead to a federal complaint, so they find themselves pausing before reacting in potentially violent situations.”No one wants to go through what they did, but I would hope officers would not start second-guessing themselves because then it becomes an issue of officer safety,” Fraternal Order of Police President Del Stout said.
ROBERTS STADIUM STILL MAKES PROFIT: Roberts Stadium’s days could be numbered, but the 52-year-old facility is still making a profit. The stadium had generated more than $2 million in revenue as of late last month, with a profit margin of nearly $130,000, according to SMG, the company that manages the stadium for the Evansville Parks Department. In 2007, the stadium earned $2.8 million, with a $13,663 profit (Evansville Courier & Press). How the stadium has performed financially in recent years is a topic that has received little discussion, at least publicly, since the city began debating whether to build a new arena or renovate Roberts. Depending on whom you ask, that’s either an oversight or a moot point. The Roberts Stadium Advisory Board met for more than a year and discussed how a new arena would perform financially at a new location versus the current site. Board member Joe Kiefer said he didn’t recall any detailed conversations about how the stadium had performed historically. “I don’t think that was something that came up,” Kiefer said. The board recommended building a Downtown arena. The decision now rests with Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and the City Council. Both are awaiting the results of studies performed by architectural, engineering and financial consultants. Those studies have begun, and a final report is expected by late November. Weinzapfel and council members have said repeatedly that the financial plan will be key to their decision — namely, whether the arena can be funded without raising property taxes. Weinzapfel said he wasn’t surprised that Roberts Stadium is still making a profit. “It’s pretty well managed,” he said.
SBA AUDITS KOKOMO UTILITIES: Unauthorized spending from the city’s wastewater utility continued in 2007, despite warnings from state auditors last year that such spending wasn’t allowed (Kokomo Tribune). But other problems that appeared in past state audits weren’t mentioned in the 2007 audit, which was released by the state early this week. A State Board of Accounts auditor took issue with more than $126,000 in utility spending in 2006, saying city officials under former Mayor Matt McKillip had improperly tapped the city’s sewer utility to pay for lobbying expenses and the operations of a city-run cable television channel. By state law, auditors said, “expenses paid from utility funds should be directly related to the operations of the municipally owned utility.” Although the city incurred no penalty for that spending, the 2006 audit made it clear the $126,000 should have been reimbursed to the utility. The city’s sewer utility operates on revenues collected from local sewer bills, and for that reason is considered a separate entity from the rest of city government. Auditors, however, found the city continuing to take money out of the sewer utility to support general government functions in 2007. Last year, auditors found $62,417 was improperly spent out of the utility fund.
No tag for this post.Related posts
This entry was written by and posted on October 6, 2008 at 8:41 am and filed under Daily Wire. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.