Indiana’s unemployment rate in line with national rate

The Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD) announced Friday morning that Indiana’s unemployment rate for November 2010 decreased to 9.8%, down from the October 2010 rate of 9.9%. The slight decrease brings the state in line with the national unemployment rate of 9.8%.

* County with the highest unemployment rate: Elkhart 13.3%
* County with the lowest unemployment rates: Daviess 5.7%

Also available from DWD:

• Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities
• Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate
• Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Jobs Report (CES)

• Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Non-Seasonally-Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Detail Employment Listing – Statewide & MSAs

Study Released: Justice Reinvestment in Indiana

On Wednesday December 15 the governor endorsed recommendations on changes to Indiana’s criminal code and sentencing policies based on a recently concluded study. With the governor’s endorsement, the recommendations will now go before the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission and are expected to be included in a legislation to be filed in January.

According to the governor’s press release,

…the state will improve public safety and security for Hoosiers by concentrating Department of Correction resources on the state’s most violent criminals and by taking a new and smarter approach to those who commit lesser offenses.

Announced in June 2010 by Gov. Daniels, the review was conducted through a partnership with the Pew Center on the States and the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center (CSG).

For a quick summary of the study, visit the CSG website >>

Download the complete report Justice Reinvestment in Indiana (PDF)>>

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Today  over 250 students gathered in the rotunda for the annual trimming of the State House Christmas tree.  Each year, the state capitol building receives a large coniferous tree donated by the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association.  This year’s theme is “Holiday Tales from the Heart.”  With an emphasis on literacy, students were asked to write about their favorite Christmas memories and to put that short story in a decorated book to be hung on the tree as an ornament.

This year’s tree came from Hensler Nursery located in Hamlet, Indiana.

 

Students singing carols in the Rotunda.

 

Students hang “Holiday Tales from the Heart” ornaments on the tree.

 

To see more ornaments go to Indiana First Lady Cheri Daniels’  website where she posted some of her favorites.

Budget Brief: Environment, Local Government Finance & Homeland Security

Hearing Date: December 13, 2010

Testifying Agencies:

Dept. of Environmental Management

Presentation

Agency Overview

Performance Measures

Operating Budget Request

Dept. of Natural Resources

Transmittal Letter

Performance Measure

Capital Budget Request

Operating Budget Request

Dept. of Revenue

Presentation

Transmittal Letter

Performance Measures

Operating Budget Request

Dept. of Local Government Finance

Presentation

Transmittal Letter

Performance Measures

Operating Budget Request

Dept. of Homeland Security

Performance Measures

Indiana Homeland Security District

HIRA Synopsis

Operating Budget Request

Presentation Highlights:

Governor’s 2011 education agenda

On Wednesday December 8 Indiana’s Education Roundtable gave it’s approval to measures pushed by Governor Daniels and State Superintendent Tony Bennett. Touted as “rigorous teacher and administrator evaluation systems and accelerated graduation opportunities for high school students.”

Expect to see much debate over all of these proposals as education bills and the state budget bill move through the process, beginning with  public committee hearings in January.

I have always looked at education not as a bipartisan issue, but as a nonpartisan issue… I hope we can put students first,  even before partisanship or politics. - Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary), Ranking Minority Member of Senate Education Committee

A glimpse of Statehood Day

Today marked Indiana’s 194th birthday, and students from all across Indiana came to the Statehouse to help celebrate.

 

Students gathered in the Rotunda to hear several state office-holders speak.

 

Fourth grader Kamryn Bridges from Burris Elementary School read her winning essay, “What Indiana Means to Me.”  Kamryn’s essay explained why fall in Indiana is her favorite time of year and why she will always feel that Indiana is her true home.

 

The Indiana Color Guard presenting the colors.

 

Fourth graders touring the Rotunda.

 

Members of the Indiana Color Guard at Statehood Day.

Budget Brief: Utilities, Lottery and Statewide elected offices

Hearing Date: December 9, 2010

Testifying Agencies:

IURC

• Agency Overview
• Performance Measures
• Operating Budget Request

Gaming Commission

• Presentation
• Transmittal Letter
• Organization Chart
• Performance Measures
• Operating Budget Request
• Department of Gaming Research Operating Budget Request

Horse Racing Commission

• Transmittal Letter
• Organization Chart
• Performance Measures
• Operating Budget Request
• Operating Budget Request – Revised

Hoosier Lottery

• Performance Measures
• Revenue
• Income Statement

State Library

• Presentation
• Agency Overview
• Organization Chart
• Performance Measures
• Operating Budget Request

Auditor of State

• Transmittal Letter
• Operating Budget Request

Treasurer of State

• Transmittal Letter
• Operating Budget Request

Secretary of State

• Transmittal Letter
• Operating Budget Request

Attorney General

• Transmittal Letter
• Operating Budget Request

 

Presentation Highlights:

Indiana: 194 years young!

 

Today the Statehouse Tour Office is throwing a celebration in honor of Indiana’s 194th “birthday.” Admitted into the United States of America on December 11, 1816, Indiana was the nation’s 19th state.

Featured at the event are three fourth grade students whose work received top honors in the Indiana Statehood Day essay competition. Over 2,880 students participated in the essay contest, “What Indiana Means to Me”. This year marked the most entries in the history of the contest.

You can watch the ceremony live from noon-1:00 . Check back here for photos of the event.

Budget Brief: Economic Development, Mortgage Foreclosure Counseling & State Capital Projects

Hearing Date: December 8, 2010

Testifying Agencies:
IEDC

• Presentation
• Agency Overview
• Organization Chart
• Performance Measures
• Operating Budget Request

Lt. Governor (Tourism, OCRA, Energy, ISDA)

• Agency Overview
• Perfomance Measures
• Operating Budget Request
• ISDA Agency Overview
• ISDA Operating Budget Request

IHCDA (Mortgage Foreclosure Counseling)

• IFPN Presentation
• IHCDA Agency Overview
• IHCDA Operating Budget Request

PERF/TRF

• Presentation

Personal Services Contingency Fund, SEA 501 Plan Update (SBA)

• Presentation

State Capital Projects and Leases (SBA/IFA)

• Presentation
• Post War Construction Fund
• Total by Type (RR, PM, Lease)
• Total by Funding Source

IFA

• Debt Overview

IDOA

• Transmittal Letter
• Operating Budget Request
• Capital Budget Request

Presentation Highlights:

Budget Brief: K-12 Education

Hearing Date: December 7, 2010

DOE

Agency Overview

Performance Measures

School Lunch Division Operating Budget Request

Operating Budget Request

Department of Education (DOE) –

Many legislators were concerned with the possibility of additional budget cuts for schools beyond  the $350 million in cuts that were instituted in CY 2010. Superintendent Bennett reassured the legislature that Governor Daniels has said that CY 2011 support will be consistent with the funding support that was provided in CY 2010. Translation: The new K-12 funding “base” proposed by DOE will incorporate the 2010 cuts as a permanent base reduction, leaving funding at 4.9% less than the CY2011 appropriation passed in last budget.

The DOE’s FY2011-2013 Biennium budget request of $6,524,802,987 remains consistent with the base rate* recommended by the State Budget Agency; however, the request did include some significant transfers of money between certain line items.