War costs might force Hoosiers to pay $500 for 'Iraqi Freedom'

Homeland security and the war in Iraq could cost the average Indiana resident more than $500, The Indianapolis Star reported.\nThe figure covers everything from missiles to a set of "red alert" warning signs purchased by Hendricks County officials, according to an analysis by the Star for Friday's paper.\nThe Bush administration estimated the war will cost about $74.7 billion.\nIndiana taxpayers will shoulder about 2 percent of the costs, meaning about $1.49 billion of the total $74.7 billion package. With an estimated 2,910,610 working Hoosiers, the cost per taxpayer is $511.92.\nState and local officials are hoping some of that contribution will come back to Indiana, said Clifford Ong, executive director of the Indiana Counter-Terrorism and Security Council.\n"We should start getting reports back next week," Ong said. "I don't anticipate a lot, except from our major cities."\nIndianapolis leads the state in terror-related spending -- $40,000 a week, according to a U.S. Conference of Mayors study released Thursday.\nElsewhere in Indiana, Bloomington is spending $36,400 per week; Greenwood $25,000, and Columbus $10,000.\nJoLynn Garing, spokeswoman for Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, said the added expenses are not yet impeding other city services.\n"We are just absorbing the costs right now," she said. "But obviously if this continues for a year or more, we would have to be making some hard decisions."\nIn Danville, Hendricks County officials share that concern. "If we go to red alert, we'll all have to spend (more) money," said emergency management director Jim Adams, whose $36,351 annual budget is already strapped.\nIn Shelby County, it's business as usual in a sheriff's department where overtime is discouraged.\n"We haven't taken any extraordinary new moves," said Sheriff Thomas K. Debaun. "We really don't have the budget for it"