Archive for July 18th, 2008

This is a bit more than just finding some loose change under the sofa cushions, no?

INDIANAPOLIS — The state has ended the latest fiscal year with its third consecutive balanced budget.

State officials closed the books on the fiscal year that ended on June 30 with revenues exceeding spending by about $321 million. That was in part due to spending restraints ordered by Gov. Mitch Daniels that included some agencies not filling vacant positions and delaying some capital projects.

The state ended the year with nearly $600 million in its main checking account. That combined with savings accounts left the state with a budget surplus of about $1.4 billion.

State Auditor Tim Berry said Thursday that Indiana is on firm financial ground, while 29 other states — including the four surrounding Indiana — are facing fiscal woes.

Democrats, interestingly, think that the money should be given back to the people of Indiana.

This is a novel concept for Democrats; I am sure they will shake themselves out of it soon.

Jill Long Thompson should probably be careful what she asks for. Nothing would turn this election into a shattering and party-destroying two-to-one thumping like the Governor deciding to use the budget surplus to help alleviate gas prices by temporarily doing away with the sales tax on gasoline (or calling a brief special session and asking to get that authority, since the AG’s office doesn’t seem to think that he has it already).

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Indy Star lists the 35 Starbucks closing throughout the state today.  12 are in the Indy area alone.  Is your favorite store on the list?  Part of the list is below.

Indianapolis stores slated to close:

>> 3778 N. Meridian St.;
>> 9642 Allisonville Road;
>> 3855 E. 96th St.;
>> 2910 N. College Ave.;
>> 5060 W. 38th St.;
>> 3021 W. 16th St. (previously announced); and
>> 3801 S. Keystone Ave.

Metro-area stores set to close:

>> Beech Grove (1718 Churchman Ave.);
>> Carmel (2316 E. 116th St.);
>> Greenwood (789 U.S. 31 North);
>> Plainfield (Metropolis Mall); and
>> Speedway (5945 Crawfordsville Road).

The other Indiana stores are one each in Angola; Batesville; Bluffton (previously announced); Crown Point; Evansville; Greensburg; New Castle; Portage; Seymour; South Bend; and Vincennes.

As we’re already well aware, the Obama strategy continues to make Indiana a priority.  But is their strategy to win Indiana for Obama?  Or is their strategy to affect the down ballot races (perhaps an emphasis on Indiana’s 5 or more competitive Congressional races?) through spending money on TV ads and field offices in places like Fort Wayne and South Bend?  Obama’s campaign and the DNC have partnered to create a new organization to spend money in states like Indiana called “Committee for Change.” Article from Roll Call below.

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