Northwest Indiana Discussion

Well, it seems like there are substantial problems with the city budget, so much so, the city council is not going to air the budget so that all can hear and see for themselves just how dire fiscal matters are in Hammond. Never in the history of the city has the budget not had an open review.

McDermott's city council . Wait and see how dire that budget will be in a few months. You won't find the budget on line.

I still don't understand how, if things are that difficult, how the Festival, Legal Clinic, casino revenue re directed to provide money to everything, but what it was intended to do.

It is as problematic as it was last year because it is the same budget, but you knew that.

About the Hammond budget quoted from The Times, Mike Opinker said..."Pretty much with it being the same as last year..." Same Sheet Different Year.

Since this budget requires very little effort should we still pay the council members?

I think they deserve a raise for their efficiency.

Hey how many city employees have been transferred over to the water department this year?

So Tom get's to hide the cost of the Festival, Legal Clinic, Health Care Cost, Fire Department Budget, His mayor's budget, personnel in his office, etc, etc.

The State Board of Accounts cites it as an illegal practice, but then when does Tom really care about following the law?

I was out last night having dinner with a judge, and another attorney friend, brought the following concept up for discussion.

If McDermott really is an licensed attorney, and under his montre-vigie he knew fiscal matters where, let's say, inappropriate and signed off on them, as he does every year with the State Board of Accounts, by not following the law, would his patenty-license be placed in jeopardy because he continues to allow the illegal practice?

Worse yet, is that word from the assessor says that Hammond home valuations are down 48%! It will compound the effect of our tax rate caps. Resubmitting last year's budget is "bury your head in the sand" irresponsible. Plummeting valuations means more than just less tax dollars. It means even more people upside down on loans. People who will walk away from homes and leave the keys on the counter for the bank. Leading to more distressed properties. Leading to more need for tear downs. Leading to more properties not paying taxes. Leading to something looking like Gary with a few more baseball fields.

Can't Hank Adams just raise the assessments on Hammond homes like he has been doing in other towns all along? That's been working great, hasn't it? I have a relative in Munster whose home was recently assessed at around $300,000 while nearly identical homes with selling prices around $160,000 have been sitting for months. Everyone is calling this guy a genius when all he has done is get tax bills out on time. Isn't that what he is paid to do? Isn't that the job he wanted? It seems to me that meeting the bare minimum of your job requirements hardly qualifies one to be labeled a "genius" or a "fresh face". Is the bar really that low in Lake County?

Thats a new twist. People don't pay their taxes and walk away from their homes and it is the City of Hammods fault for burying their head in the sand by submitting the same budget as last year, a budget that has to be approved by the state by the way. What would you suggest they do when over 3/4 of the budget goes to PD and HFD and their retirees?

Given the decreased assessments, this budget won't be approved by the state. Suggestion? How about a budget that has a realistic goal for collections and revenues? How about a budget that has no raises? How about a budget that eliminates positions? How about a budget without a party on the lake? Sorry...I don't think they have Festival of The Take in the budget. It's the failed leadership of Hammond's fault for presenting a budget that will not work with lower assessments. The mayor and the president of the council should take ownership of their failures.

As is always the case when any Lake County municipality is involved, it is everyone's fault but the elected officials'. It has nothing to do with the fact that city governments have been kissing the posteriors of public employees for decades to maintain their patronage army.

Just raise "user fees" (i.e. "taxes"). The citizens of Hammond have tons of cash burning holes in their pockets and according to Mr. Fowler, they want all sorts of government services like a worthless recycling supervisor driving around town on their dime.

Glad you chimed in. And your right, the city of Hammond is NOT responsible, Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr is. Let's put this in perspective. People by a home, the hope for good schools, a safe neighborhood and city services. Responsible government, not 3 or four $1,400,000 baseball fields and parks.

Tom builds a $35,000,000 charter school on a toxic waste sight. The cost over runs have never been addressed, allegations regarding food service, just pushed into the cost of the building, furniture, supplies, etc. There is some standing question why, the highly qualified first choice for principal left so quickly. Some believe he was directed to do something's that he believed were, let's just say problematic. For every kid attending the Charter school, it takes $7,500 per kid away from the Hammond School System.

The establishment of TIFF's take tax dollars away from the city at large, including schools, libraries, increasing the tax burden to the citizens. Article about 6 mo ago in the Times where the County Council openly chastised communities for having too many tiff's.

Then we have a Tiff, Woodmar where, when money was released, over $900,000 the SBA requested how that release met Tiff guidelines, McD never answered their inquiry, because the release never met TIF guidelines.

Crime, Gangs, Drugs and Prostitution are a problem. The Hammond Police Department was understaffed for 9 years, until McD's 3rd term, when he was fearful of losing to Janiec. Only then did McD hire 10 cops. Force is down from what I have been told nearer to 20 cops. McD hires 10 and four more leave.[/b]

Their cars are over 6 to 8 years old on average! They did not have the resource to by undercover surveillance equipment. A citizen purchased their first undercover camera, recorder and mike. WTF!

So with Casino revenue being deflected to all sorts of McD personal interest, college bound, legal clinics, $1,000,000 festivals, $1,400,000 baseball fields, bicycle paths (Hammond put up $3,500,000 in participation funds), $11,000,000 of HUD funds intended for rehab of properties in Hammond and that money can't be traced because money was spent and can't be traced, contracts given not to the lowest bidder, but to a friend of Tom's, well then, it appears there is no hope. Some of these McD programs have never been audited.... lending to them a East Chicago "Second City" aura about them. Then you have to live next to this http://www.northwestindiana.com/discussionforum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10556&start=450&sid=5a5f7ea2c82db81034ba039bbe8ce30b with a friggin McDermott Sign, a house that looks like it has needed some corrective measures for some time!

I don't understand how someone would allow their political sign to go up on every slum and rental in town!

How many times do you call the cops for help and they show up a 1/2 hour later? Cops don't have the staffing to do their job.

Actually X, I don't blame Hammond, I blame McDermott. That's my beef!

And now that the City Council is bought and paid for by Jr, and your having no hearing on the city budget, even though there is a $13,400,000 shortfall.... even more reason to pack your bags...

I'll give you three guesses as to who the fiscal genius was who negotiated those PD and HFD contracts.

Homes in Hammond are not worth squat, and it is getting worse. The one on the corner from me, a nice 3 bedroom, full basement, 1 car garage, small lot, is still for sale 2 months after the asking price of $30,00 has not been met. The owner, who's family has lived in this house since it was built in 1920, told me he would take $28,000. There are no takers. The electric and the bathroom have been updated. The garage needs paint. 8 years ago he could have got $70,000 for this place. Now he will be happy to get $28,000 and he can't sell it.

I have got $90,000 in my house. I would be lucky to get $50,000. As for your relative who has the house in Munster, they need to go to Lake County with print outs of what the similar houses are selling for, and appeal the taxes.