In the past decade, Indiana has become a national leader in fiscal responsibility and putting taxpayers first. Auditor of State Tera Klutz recently announced the state ended Fiscal Year 2017 with a $42 million surplus and nearly $1.8 billion in reserves, showing Indiana continues to be on the right track for a successful future.

These additional funds serve an important purpose in protecting taxpayers. Just as a family or business must set aside savings for an unexpected emergency, Indiana must do the same to avoid a strain on state government services in the event of an economic downturn. With our healthy reserves in place, Indiana will be able to continue to fund necessary government services like education and Medicaid while the economy recovers, if necessary.

These numbers also demonstrate Indiana’s budgetary discipline. Every two years, the Indiana General Assembly passes a budget to fund Hoosiers’ top priorities. Adjustments are made if revenues and expenditures do not go according to plan, ensuring we live within our means and keep our state on the right track.

Based on our fiscal state, Hoosier taxpayers can be confident lawmakers take Indiana’s finances seriously and work hard to ensure our dollars are managed wisely. 

These accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. U.S. News and World Report named Indiana’s government the best in the nation based on our budget transparency, fiscal stability, state integrity and government digitalization. This fiscal strength has led to several economic successes as well.

Indiana’s unemployment rate in June was the lowest it has been since October 2000. At just 3 percent, we continue to outrank our neighboring states, with Michigan at 3.8 percent, Illinois at 4.7 percent, Ohio at 5 percent and Kentucky at 5.1 percent. Indiana also remains well below the 4.4 percent national average.

Since last year alone, Indiana’s unemployment rate has fallen 1.5 percent, making it the second-largest decrease in the United States.

These recent developments are great news for our state. With the number of employed Hoosiers on the rise, I am confident our economy will continue to thrive and grow.

If you have any thoughts or questions on these or other issues, please contact me by email at Senator.Houchin@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 1:35, Indiana State Police, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force arrested a father and daughter on multiple drug charges.

Police responded to the Howard Johnson Hotel located at 1101 North Green River Road to arrest Scott J. Bond, 42, of Evansville and his daughter, Gabrielle Bond, 18. 

 Arrested and Charged were: 

Scott J. Bond, 42, Evansville, IN

1. Dealing Methamphetamine over 10 grams
2. Possession of Methamphetamine
3. Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felony
4. Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
5. Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance
6. Possession of Marijuana
7. Possession of Paraphernalia
8. Possession of Altered Handgun
9. Resisting Law Enforcement 
10. Visiting a Common Nuisance

Gabrielle Bond, 18, Evansville, IN

1. Maintaining a Common Nuisance
2. Possession of Marijuana 

Bond was wanted on an active Vanderburgh County felony warrant for Dealing Methamphetamine. Officers had received information that Bond was staying at the hotel.

When officers knocked on the hotel room door Bond attempted to escape through a bathroom window. He was arrested just outside the hotel room without further incident.

Bond’s 18-year-old daughter, Gabrielle Bond, was located inside the hotel room.

A search of the hotel room and his vehicle revealed several baggies containing approximately 54 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances, three handguns, two rifles, ammunition and $482 cash.

Scott and Gabrielle Bond were taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where they are currently being held without bond.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.    

It’s the start of a new school year.

Every school year the Indiana State Police receives numerous complaints about school bus stop arm violations from school corporations around the state. The Indiana Department of Education surveys school corporations annually for stop arm violations on one given day, and reports those numbers to the National Association of State Directors for Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).

There are just over 16,000 school buses on the road in Indiana, and according to the yearly statistics, as the number of school buses on the road has increased, so has the number of school bus stop arm violations.

The Indiana State Police would like to remind motorists of the Indiana law concerning school buses, flashing lights and stop arms. Remember, when approaching a school bus, from any direction, which is stopped with its flashing red lights activated and its stop arm extended, motorists are required to STOP, even on multiple lane highways.

Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median (i.e. a concrete or cable barrier, or a grass median) are required to stop only if they are traveling the same direction as the school bus. If there is no unimproved median or barrier, then all lanes in all directions must stop. When approaching a school bus always be prepared to stop and watch for stopped traffic.

Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a serious violation and one that school bus drivers are quick to report. Violation of this law is a Class “A” infraction and is punishable by a maximum fine of up to $10,000.

The Indiana State Police is committed to the safety of our children, motorists and highways, and will continue our enforcement and education efforts to ensure that safety. To learn more about national stop arm violation statistics you may access the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services web site at http://www.nasdpts.org/StopArm/index.html

To contact the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division with questions about stop arm violations you may click on the link https://secure.in.gov/ISP/BusInspections/Public/Index then click on email ISP.