Peterson Wants Income Tax Increase To Fund Public Safety

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson on Wednesday introduced a sweeping proposal to provide an additional $90 million in funding each year to public safety.

The increased funding would be paid for by a 65 percent increase in income tax in Marion County. If approved, the tax rate would climb to 1.65 percent.

"We've declared a war against crime, and we need more money to fight it," Peterson said. "Let's do the right thing. Let's act. Let's take back our streets and save our children."

The mayor said Indianapolis' crime fighting efforts have not kept up with the city's growth and that the justice system has been exposed as inadequate.

Peterson broke down the funding proposal with $30 million each to go to pensions and to cover ongoing costs of initiatives already announced. About $10 million would be spent to cover the cost of new police and fire personnel and $20 million would be spent on new crime-fighting initiatives.

"I'm proposing nothing less than to finally solve this shameful problem once and for all," Peterson said. "I will not cut back. We will not go back."

Peterson said he wants to add 100 new officers to the force and increase the capacity to train new recruits.

For a family of four making $50,000 a year, the income tax bill would go up by almost $280 a year.

"I know this income tax increase does not come at a good time," Peterson said, alluding to the looming property tax increase. "The property tax crisis must be alleviated by the state."

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said he wishes the money could have come sooner. He said the program is needed but said he agrees that it is a bad time to raise taxes.

"These are real needs, and the unfunded pensions, additional police officers, additional jail beds, public safety has to come first," Brizzi said.

Aaron Sullivan, who is head of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the pension help is positive, but he would like to see even more officers than Peterson is proposing.

"We do need more officers than 100, but the 100 will be appreciated," Sullivan said.

Some community activists said they are impressed that Peterson would dare raise taxes in an election year, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

"I think it's one of the bravest things a mayor of Indianapolis has ever done," said Ellen Morley Matthews of the Broad Ripple Village Association.

Some residents said Peterson's proposal fails to address the root causes of crime.

"Offer more education and job opportunities for the African-American community," said Anthony Hampton, who lives on the city's south side. "That will cut down on crime over 50 percent."

"The people who are in the neighborhoods committing the crimes -- we need to deal with them and find out what their needs are," said Dorothy Herron, a community activist.

The City-County Council will consider the proposal and could vote on it at its next meeting July 23. If approved, it would take effect Oct. 1.