If you follow the mtA blog, you know we have repeatedly addressed the inadequate allocation of resources to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control.
A lone City-County Councilor, Zach Adamson, seems to be aware of the anemic level of funding for IACC. Expressing concern about the Ballard administration’s commitment of $5 million in tax dollars for infrastructure and traffic improvements on the IUPUI campus, Adamson said
“We don’t have enough money to make the city function at its barest minimum for things like Animal Care and Control and public safety and paving roads, but again we always seem to find these enormous amounts of money for things unrelated to the city.”
IUPUI is a private institution. The Ballard administration is asking for a tax increase to fund additional police officers. While the standard answer is always that “money from this fund can’t be used for that purpose,” the excuse is wearing thin.
Others have tried to focus attention on the deplorable conditions at IACC. In a letter to the editor of the Indianapolis Star in May, Ellen Robinson of FACE asked
“So why does Indianapolis continue to hang on to an outdated Animal Control structure? With the kind of turnover they’ve experienced, why aren’t our city leaders exploring other options?”
Robinson noted IACC’s severely outdated facility, its struggle to maintain adequate staffing, and the turnover of 10 administrators in 12 years. One might argue that IACC needs renovation considerably more than IUPUI’s Natatorium.
A million here, a million there
According to a WTHR news story, Adamson has also expressed concern about nearly $10 million in no-bid contracts already signed by the city for services related to the proposed criminal justice center, for which a developer hasn’t even been selected. The IBJ reports that figure is closer to $12 million.
“When we first found there was a contract for consulting fees to the tune of $700,000, everyone was shocked, and it’s even more shocking that wasn’t the largest, that was the smallest.”
Adamson also wondered why a separate company had been contracted to provide services that seem to be the developer’s responsibility.
No group of employees in city government deals with the stress (and volume) of life, death and disease like those at IACC. There will never be adequate budgeting for primary needs, such as IACC and public safety, as long as elected officials are driven by greed, self-enrichment, and a need to subsidize campaign contributors.
Zach Adamson is at least aware. Remember his name.