No one dared to take on sheriff salaries

Sheriff Bob Blair of LaPorte County advocated a change away from the old compensation system. His opponent focused on Blairs suggested pay level while ignoring the hidden revenues in the old system, thus dishonestly portraying it as a Blair ploy for more money. Blair was defeated. Sadly, he died before he could continue his promising political life.

Say, Isn't this the same Rep Buell that the Star panned for "not doing enough". Now they like him, when he does what they agree with.

Larry Buell is a fine legislator with more brains than the whole Star staff combined.

corruptionrulesindiana wrote:

You didnt actually expect the boys downtown to take care of the taxpayers did you? You must think this is 1944 when we were united and fought for whats right. What has happened to my country?

Two Word's; "Republican Leadership"

It is politics as usual..the taxpayers getting the shaft. Why do you think those guys fight so hard to stay in once they get in?? I'm so sick of all the corruption. And to Mr. Alexander..what happened to doing the job because it is YOUR JOB and not because you're getting a kickback? It stinks to high heaven. We need to put in a flat salary for the sheriff, and tax money should go to the coffers of the city/county, NOT THE SHERIFF'S POCKET!!

Shame on us for just reelecting the same old politicios over and over. If they are in a term office they just run for another office and we reelect them again. My motto is..don't reelect anyone. Lets hold our "elected" officials accountable to clean up this gross "injustice". I wonder if my employer will allow me to keep any collections I can obtain from past due acounts? Maybe I should ask? Right!

Indiana values continue to decline. Who will save us now that legislators have been bought by the Colts and our Sheriffs? Crime continues (white-collar and blue-collar) in Indiana as 2007 1st quarter approaches.
Where are people that believe in heroes like Superman or heroines like Wonder Woman?

A Thinker wrote:

Indiana values continue to decline. Who will save us now that legislators have been bought by the Colts and our Sheriffs? Crime continues (white-collar and blue-collar) in Indiana as 2007 1st quarter approaches.
Where are people that believe in heroes like Superman or heroines like Wonder Woman?

They are in Washington!!!You are right, an investigation is long overdue!!!!

Chuck wrote:

I guess I will go back to voting Republican next time. There doesn't seem to be any difference. This fiasco, along with the "payback" on the cigarette tax proposal has told me I made a mistake. I did have hopes. How stupid could I be?

Chuck, it isn't stupid to realize a mistake and to not repeat it. What is stupid is to keeping making the same mistake, election after election, until people start calling you names, like "Democrat."

Sheriff Salaries,In my opinion you should leave it alone.Here we go still demonstrating that deep seated fear of a Black person making more money than a White person.Why don't you stop playing that card.Nothing was ever said or mentioned when the office was held by two White Sheriffs.I think the General Assembly is wise enough to know that you are looking up a dead horses you know what.Let's get pass this kind of thing and move on.

I think we need Gov Daniels to consider outsourcing the county Sheriff system to some Indians or Malaysians, or even cheaper illegal aliens.

Since Indianapolis now is supposed to have a "combined police force" why wasn't the Sheriff's position abolished at that time? It would have seemed that would have been a major part of all this cost saving Mayor Bart saw in some far off fog. I just returned to Indianapolis after a six year absence and I am ashamed of what this city has become.

crp wrote:

Sheriff Salaries,In my opinion you should leave it alone.Here we go still demonstrating that deep seated fear of a Black person making more money than a White person.Why don't you stop playing that card.Nothing was ever said or mentioned when the office was held by two White Sheriffs.I think the General Assembly is wise enough to know that you are looking up a dead horses you know what.Let's get pass this kind of thing and move on.

I guess you're saying Black elected officials are entitled to every dime they can rake in no matter had badly they serve the people who elected them.

This city is like living in armageddon. Yes, why wasnt that position eliminated to save money. The reason it wasnt is that there is no ACCOUNTABILITY in Indiana. No one has to answer for anything. Why should they; recall elections and referendums are outlawed here. Its wide open ranges for our leaders!

Indiana Sheriffs have a tremendous responsiblity on a daily basis throughout their terms. Most are deserving of every dime they are paid. I'm not one of them, don't work for one and have no relatives serving. I'm just familiar with what they face every day.

Marion COunty needs to bring Jack Cottey back as Sheriff. Now there was an honest Sheriff.

nowayout wrote:

This city is like living in armageddon. Yes, why wasnt that position eliminated to save money. The reason it wasnt is that there is no ACCOUNTABILITY in Indiana. No one has to answer for anything. Why should they; recall elections and referendums are outlawed here. Its wide open ranges for our leaders!

Read your Indiana Constitution.

Very disheartening that Rep. Buell's bill is "all but dead". How many taxpayers know that Frank Anderson is living in a million dollar (or more) WATERFRONT home on (Shorevista Dr) Geist? I know, because my daughter lived across the street from Mr. Anderson on the same street. She is in the private sector --not using taxpayer's money to support a lavish lifestyle that belies the fact that Mr. Anderson, a PUBLIC official--a sheriff--is earning more than any sheriff anywhere--this is outrageous and each and every elected official who voted against Mr. Buell's bill should be voted out of office. Since when do elected officials think being elected means GETTING RICH? I guess quite a few---Evan Bayh and his wife--getting rich on corporate boards, the Clintons, ad nauseum--politics and elected office is a "get rich quick" plan for many. Mr. Anderson ought to be ashamed of himself. I propose we take a "tour bus" to those who might like to see how Mr. Anderson lives--wealthy on Geist. It might be fun to see the Bayh's multimillion dollar vacation home on Bethany Beach, Delaware and enjoy viewing his multimillion dollar home in Northwest Washington--how does a politician on government salary get this type of lifestyle? Politics is like winning the lottery--on the backs of hardworking taxpayers. It is truly disgusting. I give Julia Carson credit--she did not "get rich quick" via political office. For that, she is to be commended.

Ms. Lee, you are reckless and irresponsible posting Anderson's address. Why don't you post about Buell's Cadillac?

Another racist editorial by the Indianapolis Star. The white guy gives the money back, but the black guy keeps it (even when the star pushed him to give part of it back).

Nice work. Hope you are proud of yourselves.

It is truly pitiful that our Indiana General Assembly is unwilling to do the job that the taxpayers are paying them to do! Then again, why would they? They are feeding at the same trough!! We see them aligning their salaries with that of trial court judges, as they previously aligned the Sheriff's salaries to prosecutors' salaries. Will they require the additional educational degrees of those positions, or do we keep these elected offices at a high school diploma? Are they willing to work a 40 hour work weeks and take a limited number of vacation days a year for the same pension and health care benefits as full time county and state employees? Hardly!
These are antiquated laws that allow Sheriff's to receive a percentage of the tax monies collected in addition to their high salaries. Counties that do have contracts are now experiencing problems of unscrupulous Sheriff's taking both the high contract salary amount and the extra percentage of delinquent tax money collected. After the contract solution was adopted in Wayne County over twenty years ago, the next three Sheriff's followed suit and received only that amount. Now, we have a Sheriff who decided to take BOTH the percentage of delinquent tax monies and the high contract salary set for this small county.(The contract salary is already tens of thousands of dollars more than the District Commander of the ISP makes for this area, as well as the Richmond Police Chief.)
Moreover, Jail commissary accounts are collecting record profits as a result of increasing numbers of inmates, along with the profits from inmate’s phone calls. Legislation (currently with a broad interpretation) provides sole authority to the Sheriff as to where and how these monies are spent no matter the amount available. Sheriff's may use these monies for public relations, no bid purchases from political supporters, political reward in the guise of training at resort areas, overseas travel, state of the art equipment purchased from political campaign donors, self-promotion materials, etc. We need a legislature that will consider limits on the amounts that Sheriff's spend without any bids or approval of other fiscal government bodies. We need our media to publicize the profits amounts of commissary income and expenditures along with BOTH the jail and enforcement budget totals of all Indiana Sheriff's Departments.
Thank you Indianapolis Star for bringing all this to the table. And, since we have a legislature that will not clean up their own house, much less the home of anyone else, perhaps it is time to hire new help! That solution may ultimately solve the property tax issue in the State of Indiana.
Here are web articles referencing prior abuses of these commissary funds and collections of fees:
www.nuvo.net/archive/021199/021199_acover.htm...
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...
See Indiana Code 36-8-10-21