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Dear Editor:
Carmel City Hall elites have dashed all hopes non-mayors had for a return to fiscal responsibility in local government.
As reported in this newspaper, councilors unveiled a $59.8 million plan for Clay Township to finance city fire department, parks department and roundabout construction costs.
Hiding behind a grand plan for a Dads’ Club facility were projects the city otherwise would have to borrow money and further erode its own credit standing.
This the city cannot do. It’s tapped out. Carmel’s year-end debt load was $213.9 million; the Redevelopment Commission, $572.7 million, for a city-wide $786.6 million.
Historically, Clay Township has carried at $33 to $47 million debt load, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. Now, Clay Township will run its debt from $29 million to $89 million for City Hall benefit.
Granted, Clay Township is all within city limits, but legally is a separate governmental entity over which the city council has no formal control.
Forget that. The highly in-bred municipal machine steamrollered any thoughts of township independence much as the machine politicians have done in Chicago and Cook County, Ill., for years.
Bill Shaffer
Carmel