Indiana budget cuts threaten
local projects
By Matt Poston
City Editor
As the dust settles after Gov. Frank O'Bannon slashed
$247.5 million from the state's budget, local officials are analyzing
what the aftermath of the cuts has left them.
The cuts come from the state's Build Indiana Fund,
a fund that was set up so that money could be given on the local level
for different projects, renovations and improvements.
Cuts became necessary after the state failed to
pass legislation to plug a gaping $1.3 million projected hole in the
state's budget, while at the same time trying to restructure the state's
outdated tax system.
Last week, state Sen. Ronnie Alting, R-Lafayette,
told The Exponent that these budgets cuts weren't "just numbers —
they're people."
And that remark is holding true, as the list of
local projects that had earmarked money from the Build Indiana Fund
becomes clearer.
According to Mary Dieter, O'Bannon's press secretary,
several local projects are on the chopping block.
Included in the governor's list of cuts are the
Lafayette Adult Reading Academy, the Riverside Ice Rink, the Tippecanoe
County Jail Remodeling Project and the Tippecanoe County Public Library.
Also included in the cuts were a handful of projects
associated with Purdue, including $2.5 million to teach school children
about technical scientific instruments and $5 million that would have
gone to the nanotechnology center.
Mayor Sonya Margerum called the budget cuts a "real
downer," and said she was afraid of more budget cuts, which are expected
to be announced later this week.
"Cuts are still expected for K through 12," said
Margerum. She said such cuts might mean the schools would have to lay
off teachers, which would increase class size.
Thus far, the project most affected in the city
of West Lafayette is the Riverside Ice Rink, which is being constructed
on Tapawingo Drive.
Margerum said the city would have to go without
$300,000 in Build Indiana Funds in order to complete the project.
She said the city was looking to delay the project
or look for substitute funds to continue with the project.
"I'm disappointed with the cuts," Margerum said.
"I think the governor has no other choice because of the disagreement
(between state legislators)."
Margerum said she wasn't happy with the state's
current budget situation, noting that Indiana's budget isn't lavish
when compared to other states.
"Everyone's going to suffer," Margerum said.
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