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Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2024) - Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin issued a statement in response to President Biden’s executive order on border security:

“Joe Biden’s executive order on the border is nothing but window dressing. We have seen record numbers of illegal crossings since the day he took office, when he welcomed this madness by reversing Trump era policies. Biden’s cynical executive order will merely normalize a level of illegal immigration that President Obama’s DHS chief said would ‘overwhelm the system.’

Under Biden’s EO, DHS would not be allowed to turn asylum seekers away until illegal border crossings exceed 2,500 per day – which is nearly 1 million per year. America is being invaded and has been for 3 years now. It’s no coincidence that Joe Biden is making this political stunt weeks before the presidential debate and 5 months before the election. It’s clear that this administration has no interest in solving this humanitarian and national security crisis.

Too little. Too late. Pass HR2.”

Secured School Safety Grant

Application period now open

IDHS is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Secured School Safety Grant (FY24 SSSG). The application period will close July 1, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. EDT. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY25 SSSG includes all the information necessary for a successful grant application for the SSSG program. Before submitting your application:

Be registered in IntelliGrants.
Have an active bidder number with the state of Indiana.
Have an active supplier number with the state of Indiana.
Sign up for Grant updates.

The period of performance for the FY25 SSSG will be Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025.

Since 2014, Indiana has awarded more than $163 million in SSSG grants to support school security. Last year, 474 schools received more than $29.8 million in awards.

Click here for complete information on the SSSG program and the history of awards distributed.

What is an allowable expense for the FY25 SSSG?

The program supports a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools or a coalition of school corporations and/or charter schools applying jointly to:

Employ a school resource officer (SRO) or law enforcement officer (LEO).
Conduct a site vulnerability assessment and/or critical incident digital mapping.
Purchase equipment, hardware, materials and technology to:
1. Restrict access to school property and classrooms; or
2. Assist with visitor management on school property; or
3. Expedite notification of first responders; or
4. Expedite access to school property for first responders; or
5. Provide school staff with information about the open or closed status of interior and exterior doors; or
6. Detect fire, chemical, visual or audible threats; or
7. Enhance emergency communications inside the building; or
8. Assist with emergency medical response on school property; or
Implement a student and parent support services plan.
Purchase or provide training for a canine trained to detect drugs and illegal substances, explosives, or firearms or to otherwise provide protection for students and school employees.
Provide funding for school employees to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel and lodging related to eligible training.
Provide funding for school resource officer or law enforcement officer to receive training, including expenses for per diem, travel and lodging, related to handing a trained canine.
Design and construct additions or renovations on school property if the primary purpose is to enhance the physical security of the school building.
Implement a bullying prevention program.
Purchase a one-time non-matching grant to enable school corporations to work with their sheriff to provide the initial set up costs for an active event warning system.
Provide a response to a threat in a manner that the school corporation or charter school sees fit, including firearms training (curriculum now defined) or other self-defense training or securing funds for counseling in the event of a school shooting.
Purchase student management technology.

For more information, submit your questions to the Grant Management support ticket.

Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla released her first State of Indiana’s Financial Report today to highlight the solid fiscal standing of the state as published in the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the official, audited record of state finances.

“Indiana’s ACFR provides tangible evidence of our state’s strong financial position,” said Comptroller Nieshalla. “In sharing Indiana’s low debt, low pension fund liability, healthy cash reserves, balanced budget and AAA credit rating, we are reminded how good it is to be a Hoosier.”

The Comptroller’s Office annually produces the ACFR, which is audited by the Indiana State Board of Accounts. The ACFR provides an in-depth analysis of all state expenditures, cash flow, debt administration and other financial information.

“The State of Indiana’s Financial Report offers Hoosiers a quick tool to better understand our state’s economic well-being and how Indiana manages taxpayers’ dollars, based on the 300 pages of reporting in the ACFR.”

Highlights from the report include:
• General Fund revenue of $21.9 billion compared to $20.9 billion in fiscal year 2022.
• Assets (cash, investments, capital assets, etc.) exceeded our liabilities (payables, pension liabilities, etc.) by $25.6 billion.
• Total reserves are $2.9 billion, which is 13% of the current budget.
• Indiana ranks seventh lowest in debt among states in the U.S. at $366 per capita.

The State of Indiana’s Financial Report is a summary of the 2023 ACFR – the current ACFR and previous years are all available electronically on the Comptroller’s website. Indiana’s ACFR has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the last 30 consecutive years.

State of Indiana Financial Report 2024.pdf

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will host public information meetings to provide updates and gather feedback regarding Charging the Crossroads, INDOT’s plan to expand Indiana’s statewide electric vehicle charging network.

Charging the Crossroads is federally funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, created by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with the goal of deploying a national network of at least 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030. Watch a brief video overview of the Charging the Crossroads program here.

Attendees will hear updates on program implementation and provide feedback on potential charging station locations as well as recommended equity and inclusion metrics.

INDOT’s updated draft plan will be posted online for review by June 18, 2024. A virtual public meeting will be made available at ChargingtheCrossroads.com in the coming weeks.

Public information meetings will be held around the state in June and July as part of INDOT’s ongoing efforts to engage stakeholders with the Charging the Crossroads program. A presentation will begin 30 minutes after doors open.

Tuesday, June 25, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Ivy Tech Community College Warsaw Student Lounge
2545 Silveus Crossing
Warsaw, IN 46582

Tuesday, July 9, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Global Village Welcome Center Event Hall
4233 Lafayette Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46254

Thursday, July 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Hingst Hall
1815 E Morgan St.
Kokomo, IN 46901

Tuesday, July 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Vincennes University Green Activities Center
120 W. Harrison St.
Vincennes, IN 47591

In March, INDOT announced the first round of 39 awards through Charging the Crossroads after receiving more than 100 applications in response to last year’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). INDOT anticipates a second NOFO to be released later this year focused on addressing remaining gaps in the state’s EV charging network.

More information about the program is available at ChargingtheCrossroads.com.

Stay Informed
Get updates on INDOT projects and programs via:

Facebook: facebook.com/indianadepartmentoftransportation
Twitter: @INDOT
TrafficWise: 511in.org
Mobile App: iTunes App Store and the Google Play store for Android

About the Indiana Department of Transportation
INDOT continues to solidify the Hoosier State as the Crossroads of America through delivery of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s $60 billion Next Level Roads plan. With six district offices and 3,500 employees, the agency is charged with constructing and maintaining more than 29,000 lane miles of highways, more than 5,700 bridges, and supporting 4,500 rail miles and 127 aviation facilities across the state. For the seventh consecutive year, Indiana has placed within the top five in the nation for infrastructure in CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business” rankings. Learn more about INDOT at in.gov/indot.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Salem officials are still considering a water rate increase but have delayed any decisions until a report is heard from the task force that is currently examining the utility. The matter was discussed during the Monday, June 10, meeting of the Salem Common Council.

The Council reviewed a rate study from Baker Tilly, the city’s consulting firm. It indicated the city is not in compliance with federal standards for a required cash reserve for the utility. The rate increases were presented in two options: the first was split into two phases, the second is a one-time rate increase.

The rates were calculated based on three years’ data with the aim to maintain the utility’s future cash reserve, fund the utility’s maintenance, and to pay salaries.

It was noted that inflation has increased the operating costs for utilities. Also, the city doesn’t qualify for grants or bonds because the ratepayers aren’t paying enough to maintain the utility.

Councilman Steve Crane asked if the decision should be made after the task force submits its report to city officials. His concern was echoed by Councilman Roger Pennington, who proposed the formation of the task force earlier this year.

Pennington said the task force meets weekly and is expected to return with recommendations to improve the water utility in about two months. Any decisions made about water rates taken before then would be “premature,” he said.

“I think it would be responsible to hold off,” Pennington said. He made a motion to table the discussion, followed by a unanimous vote that upheld the motion.

Councilman Dan Libka was absent from the meeting.

The city currently carries a $4 million debt for its sewer utility and $14 million for its water utility.

There does seem to be a consensus among the Council’s members that water rate increases are needed and inevitable.

In other business:
*The Council approved the survey of a section of Crown Hill Cemetery for use for green burials. Such burials forgo the use of traditional embalming chemicals and the use of any burial vessels that aren’t compostable.
*Two bids were opened for a city-owned parcel at 203 S. Mill St. It was noted that the property needs to be cleared of debris and the house needs repair to make it habitable. The bids were for $5,000 and $12,501. The bids were accepted for review.