To:        South Bend and Indiana State Media

From:    Blacketor for Indiana State House Representative

Date:    Monday, August 23, 2004

RE:       State Auditor briefs Jo Blacketor on financial issues

 Having met with Indiana State Auditor, Connie Nass (8/18) I was briefed on significant financial issues facing elected officials in Indiana.  Some of the critical issues include:

· The state presently has a $1 billion dollar deficit even though the state ended its fiscal year in the black.  “Indiana’s economic surplus was simply created by not paying known and due expenses until after the books had been closed for the fiscal year”, noted Nass. 

· The proposed 2% Circuit Breaker on property taxes primarily for homeowners in St. Joseph and Lake Counties was briefly discussed.  Nass shared that, “with state and local municipalities dealing with extremely tight budgets the concern with this proposal is simply someone else will experience additional taxes to overcome the credits given to a few homeowners eligible under the 2% Circuit Breaker.”

· I raised concerns on the issue of Textbook funding, the challenge of the impact on property taxpayers as it relates to ongoing municipal (school building) bonds and any cost impact in moving ISTEP scores to the Spring. 

I am  the Republican Candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives in District 7 and am staying informed on the critical financial issues for the state government in 2005.  “I always do my “homework” (during my eight years as a school board member of the South Bend Public School Corporation) and show up prepared.  I plan on hitting the ground running when elected to the house.”