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Posted August 26, 2005.

Indianapolis Seeks Tax Hike to Handle Construction Costs

The Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library has asked city council for a $1.5-million tax increase in order to complete the $103-million expansion of its downtown branch. The request comes in the wake of an estimated $40 million in construction cost overruns and an opening date that may be delayed until the summer of 2007, the Indianapolis Star reported August 23. Disputes over faulty construction work with contractors in 2003 caused the library to fall behind schedule.

However, Library Board Chairman Louis Mahern told the Star that the tax request was part of the project’s financing plan and had nothing to do with cost overruns.

Ron Gibson, head of the city’s committee that’s reviewing the request, said at the council’s August 22 meeting it had little chance of winning approval. “It’s out of control,” he complained. “I’m still not comfortable with the construction project. I believe it was mismanaged.”

Mahern said that without a tax increase, the library would face “draconian” cuts, including possibly closing some neighborhood branches or putting the expansion on indefinite hold. The library has already decreased its operating budget by 2% and plans to raise about $400,000 by increasing fines for overdue materials.

Posted August 26, 2005.