Indiana

Trading Places

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

The one percent increase in the city;s hotel tax made it through tonight’s city-county council with just enough support to make it bi-partisan.

All but one Republican voted “yes” and all but one Democrat voted “no.”

Republican Christine Scales voted against the proposal, Jackie Nytes voted in favor.

Libertarian Ed Coleman joined the Democrats.

Nytes said she voted for the measure because the city had no choice.  Scales opposed the measure for almost the same reason saying she didn’t like the fact the Legislature left the Council with no other options.

You can hear both interviews below.

Both women also agreed the Capital Improvement Board is going to get a lot more scrutiny than in previous years.

Now that the tax has passed it makes the city eligible for millions in loans and other revenue to cover the operational costs of the CIB.

Speaking of which, the CIB approved its budget resolution earlier today.  It did not include $15 million for the operation costs of Conseco Fieldhouse.

Jackie Nytes

Christine Scales

Note:  Tomorrow I plan to put the events of today into political perspective.  I think you will find it interesting.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on August 10, 2009 (boomark / email).