Evansville Courier & Press
Among those in Indianapolis and Marion County, who support a statewide bailout for pro sports venues, there is a belief that a strong capital city with attractions that draw fans and events is good for all of Indiana. The Indianapolis Star, in an editorial published Tuesday, said "... a roaring economic engine in Downtown Indianapolis, one fueled by the millions of dollars flowing out of the hands of visitors, helps generate tax revenues that benefit every Hoosier, from Fort Wayne to Evansville."
That is the sort of thinking that has Central Indiana backers pushing for support from legislators from throughout the state to boost the sagging Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board (CIB), which runs the Indianapolis Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Pacers' Conseco Fieldhouse, the minor league baseball Indians Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center. The CIB is facing a $47 billion budget shortfall this year.
Hence the plan from Noblesville Republican Sen. Luke Kenley to double state alcohol taxes (with Marion County's $8 million per year share going to the CIB), $5 million contribution per year from the Colts and Pacers, a $10 million budget cut by the CIB, and expansion of the sports development area in Indianapolis to capture sales taxes from a new hotel.
Some $6 million from the hotel would go to the CIB rather than into the state's general fund.
In addition, the bill holds out cash from the alcohol taxes to communities throughout Indiana as a way of buying support. Evansville's payoff would be $1.27 million.
In fact, this measure passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, although resistance seems strong. Rep. Suzanne Crouch, R-Evansville, called it special treatment for Indianapolis, and House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-Indianapolis, said that if one area of the state is bailed out, all areas should be bailed out.
The truth is, there is an argument to be made for keeping Indianapolis a strong national and international destination city, but there is this one nagging thought we cannot escape - Interstate 69.
That is the planned interstate highway that would, when completed, allow residents from Evansville and Southwestern Indiana to reach Indianapolis and its fine sports venues in a reasonable time. Without I-69, we must go far out of the way to Terre Haute, or take the direct two-lane route, where we are at the mercy of large, slow-moving coal trucks.
After decades of near begging and strong resistance not only from the Bloomington area but from Indianapolis, the highway route is being cleared at the Evansville end. Money is in the bank to build it to near Crane.
From there on, it is a new fight. First, the money for the remainder of the construction to Indianapolis must be created, and second, the highway may not be able to enter Indianapolis.
The approved route would take the new highway along the existing State Road 37 corridor through Perry Township to Interstate 465 and Indianapolis. But because people in that township do not want the highway, legislation was written so that the it cannot be built there without further action by the legislature.
Sometime in the next future, I-69 supporters in SW Indiana are going to have to campaign, once again, for the money to finish this project.
And yet, the folks in Central Indiana now want Hoosiers in Southwestern Indiana to help pay for all those nice sports venues in Indiana. How disingenuous. We might, if we could only get there with the travel ease enjoyed by Hoosiers in most other quarters of the state.