In the area of continuing fiscal irresponsibility, Carmel, IN has again come to the fore front of how not to do things correctly.  The most recent example of governmental misplacement of priorities comes to us via the Carmel School Board.  Specifically, the school operating budget is expected to hit a shortfall next year to the tune of $1.5M.  To address this situation, the Board opted to eliminate teaching positions within the school district (around 19).  The end result of this action will be, at a minimum, higher teacher/student ratios.  It is reasonable to expect a diminished quality of education will also result.

What makes this whole situation so incredible is that fact that the Carmel City Council just approved an additional $20M to finance a reconstruction of Keystone Avenue within the Carmel boundaries.  For those of you not from this area, a brief explanation follows.

Keystone Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare that runs through both the city of Indianapolis and the adjoining Carmel City.  It is a major transportation link to the US 31 which bisects Indiana from North to South.  The city origninally received $90M from the state of Indiana to complete the project.  The project included a complete re-paving etc. of the roadway.  Since the roadway now  becomes under Carmel control it must also contain round abouts for the major intersections.  The whole round about issue has become somewhat of a local joke among a large number of residents.  Round abouts are great improvements to the traffic flow.  Unfortunately, Carmel (through the direction of our illustrious mayor and his cronies on the common council) choose to make each round about a lesson in architectural design run amok. The end result being horrifically expensive  and gaudy round abouts.

So back to Keystone Avenue.  Since this is a 4 lane divided major thorough fare, the round abouts on this road are roundabouts on steroids complete with elaborate overpass routes to exit and enter the main roadway.  Additionally, the area would not be Carmel if not for the "extended upscale" landscape accrutements.  All of this needless foolishness has driven the entire project way over budget and quite late on completion.

So there you have the Carmel priorities, continue pouring precious financial resources down this rat hole road project of our mayor's at the expense of the Carmel school children.  Give me a break!

Tim