City hires firm to raise revenue

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The city of Indianapolis has signed a marketing firm to try to find new sources of revenue for city services.

The move comes at a time when the city is facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall, and wants to do what it can to avoid raising taxes.

The pool at Wes Montgomery Park on the east side of Indianapolis is a prime example of a city property that needs help.

The kids at the park were sure glad the fire department had hooked a hose up to a hydrant earlier this summer. It was during the middle of a heat wave. The hose was right in front of the park's pool. A pool without a drop of water in it.

"I don't know," said neighborhood resident Derrick Wells. "I guess they run out of money or something."

The city's trying to come up with the money to fix the pool. It's about the only amusement in this economically challenged area.

So where do you find the money to fix the pool at Wes Montgomery Park when you're looking at a $20 million budget shortfall?

"When you're in our position you either need to cut expenses or raise revenues," said Michael Huber, the director of enterprise development for the city.

Huber doesn't want to see taxes go up. So he's signed a deal with an Indianapolis marketing firm called Third Street.

The company will look for corporate sponsors to help pay for projects such as pool repair. Third Street is eager to get to work.

"We can't wait. We can't wait to talk to the people of Indianapolis, see what's going on, and then approach the private sector and see if we can't marry the challenges to the solutions," said Sean Smith of Third Street.

"This is a business opportunity for us," added Andrew Thompson of Third Street. "But it's also an opportunity for us to be part of the community and in a small way helping solve problems in the city is very rewarding for all of us and for our firm."

The company and the city hopes corporate money and perhaps help from volunteers can help bring facilities like the pool at Wes Montgomery Park back to life.