Jane Burgess Addresses Parks Department Invoice Scam
Zionsville, IN – Republican candidate for Zionsville mayor, Jane Burgess, shared her concern over the Town’s mishandling of payment for the Winterfest ice rink.
“I am disappointed to learn about the Town falling victim to an obvious scam that diverted payment on a $59,000 invoice due to Ice America. From the WISH TV news report issued on January 27th, the fake invoice was full of punctuation and grammatical errors and included a request to have payment sent to a personal bank account. I will institute cybersecurity training for my administration to be better prepared to spot and mitigate fraud. We will have safeguards in place to detect these egregious red flags, and we will improve the security of all financial dealings by our Town.”
Burgess went on to say, “While this situation involves fraud, this isn’t the first time that the administration has experienced issues in getting vendors paid. In July, 2022, WRTV reported on a story involving City Wide Paving (CWP), a company hired to re-pave the golf course paths; CWP experienced months-long delays in receiving over $500,000 for their services. Mayor Styron has run our Town into complete financial chaos. If elected, I will work to restore our Town’s operations as quickly and comprehensively as possible.”
“Even more unsettling was how long it took the Town to report this loss to authorities. Two months is totally unacceptable." Jane added, "A well-managed administration needs to be both transparent and timely in their response to a serious issue such as this scam.”
A cornerstone of Burgess’s platform is Fiscal Responsibility & Leadership. If elected Mayor, she is pledging to restore financial accountability and will call for an independent audit within the first 90 days in office.
“I am pleased that the Zionsville Police Department has turned the investigation over to the Indiana State Police (ISP) to avoid any self-dealing. I have confidence that the ISP’s subsequent investigation will allow us to learn more about how this happened and will give us context on how to prevent it in the future.”
The primary election to determine Republican and Democratic nominees for Zionsville Mayor will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.Jane Burgess releases her latest campaign finance report
Zionsville, IN – Jane Burgess, candidate in the May 2023 Republican primary for Zionsville Mayor, filed her first campaign finance report showing she raised an impressive amount — almost $70,000. The Burgess campaign showed a significant cash on hand advantage with $52,075 in the bank compared to her opponent, John Stehr, with just $19,614.
The Burgess campaign had 130 individual donors with an average donation of $400. Of those donors, 113 donors live in Zionsville. The campaign has scheduled more fundraisers and meet and greets in the coming weeks and expects to have the resources needed to get their message out for the May primary.
In contrast, Stehr’s campaign report showed that he had cash contributions of $19,986 with just 33 donors from Zionsville.
“With 96 days until the May 2nd primary, I look forward to using my skills and knowledge to restore our financial reputation and repair working relationships to the benefit of our town." said Burgess. "In addition, I will focus on making our economic development climate more competitive to better expand and diversify our tax base.”
Burgess’s campaign is centered on three primary issues — Smart Economic Development and Jobs, Fiscal Responsibility & Leadership, and Public Safety.
Jane Burgess Officially Files to Run for Zionsville Mayor
Long-time resident and community leader, Jane Burgess, filed the official candidate paperwork with the Boone County Clerk to run for the Republican nomination for Mayor of Zionsville in the May 2023 primary election.
For the past 20 years, Burgess has been serving Zionsville and the surrounding communities in a myriad of ways. After beginning her career in education as an elementary school teacher and later as a consultant in mentoring partnerships for school corporations, she turned her attention to community engagement by serving as a board member, leader and volunteer for various organizations.
“I am excited to make it official. We formed an exploratory committee in February of 2022, and from all of my conversations with the great people of Zionsville, the message is clear — we deserve better. Better leadership, transparency, collaboration and fiscal responsibility.
I have the leadership skills, the local knowledge and deep relationships from my years here to bring back a collaborative working environment, a restored trust and financial reputation, and a highly competitive economic development climate that will expand and diversify our tax base.”
Burgess’s platform is centered on three primary issues: Smart Economic Development and Jobs, Fiscal Responsibility & Leadership, and Public Safety. If elected Mayor, she is pledging to restore a position of fiscal responsibility and professionalism within the Mayor’s Office. “I will work WITH the Town Council to ensure we preserve our charm and the thriving businesses on Main Street. At the same time, my administration will be laser focused on smart economic development and jobs. We must continue to expand and diversify our tax base and alert the business community that Zionsville is open for business. This will strengthen our Town, protect our property values and ensure a stable economic climate for years to come.”
Jane holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Purdue University and a Master of Education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She was a 12-year member of the Zionsville School Board, and currently serves on the Hussey-Mayfield Library Foundation Board and the Zionsville Lions Club, among others. She and her husband, Claude, have two grown children, Kristin and Thomas.
The primary election to determine Republican and Democratic nominees will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. For more information on Jane’s campaign, please visit her website at janeforzvillemayor.com
Jane comments on Mayor's decision to not seek re-election
Mayor Styron’s announcement that she is not seeking another term provides the citizens of Zionsville with an opportunity for a fresh start. Regardless, we have significant work to do for our Town and are focused on earning every vote possible to win this race.
I’ve said throughout this campaign that I will work tirelessly to restore accountability, transparency and respect to the Mayor’s Office, while meeting challenges successfully in the best interest of Zionsville. As proven in my successful experience leading diverse organizations, I will collaborate with my fellow elected officials, seek input from residents and stakeholders, and ultimately make the tough decisions needed to move us forward. Zionsville works best when we all pull together.
Rebuilding the public’s trust in the Town’s finances and the Mayor’s Office is a priority which will open doors for us to focus on smart economic development and job growth, all the while allowing Zionsville’s uniqueness to endure.
Further, when it comes to public safety, we will continue to ensure that our police, fire and EMT departments keep pace with the Town’s needs in personnel, training and equipment.
If I’m elected as your next Mayor, I promise to work hard every day to meet and exceed these goals.
Jane for Zionsville Mayor featured in Indianapolis Business Journal
Jane's campaign for Zionsville Mayor was featured in a recent issue of Indianapolis Business Journal. To read the article - CLICK HERE.
Jane comments on $1.9 million READI grant for Zionsville Gateway Project.
Jane Featured in Current Zionsville news
Jane was interviewed for an article about her campaign in the November 29 edition of Current Zionsville. To read the article - CLICK HERE
Community Leader Jane Burgess announces run for Zionsville Mayor
Zionsville, IN – Long-time resident and community leader, Jane Burgess, formally announced her plans to seek the Republican nomination for mayor of Zionsville in the May 2023 primary election.
For the past 20 years, Burgess has been serving Zionsville and the surrounding communities in a myriad of ways. After beginning her career in education as an elementary school teacher and later as a consultant in mentoring partnerships for school corporations, she turned her attention to community engagement by serving as a board member, leader and volunteer for various organizations.
When asked why she was running for Zionsville mayor, Jane said, “I love Zionsville, the community feel and the people who make it so special. I am running for Mayor to ensure that what makes Zionsville so unique endures while we work together to plan and build for tomorrow.”
Burgess further stated, “I believe I have the leadership skills, the local knowledge and deep relationships from my years here to bring back a collaborative working environment, a restored financial reputation and a highly competitive economic development climate that will expand and diversify our tax base.” Burgess formed an exploratory committee in February of this year and the support for her run has already been very strong.
Burgess’s platform is centered on three primary issues: Smart Economic Development and Jobs, Fiscal Responsibility & Leadership, and Public Safety. If elected Mayor, she is pledging to restore a position of fiscal responsibility and professionalism within the Mayor’s Office. “I will work WITH the Town Council to ensure we preserve our charm and the thriving businesses on Main Street. At the same time, we will be laser focused on smart economic development and jobs. We must continue to expand and diversify our tax base and alert the business community that Zionsville is open for business. This will strengthen our Town, protect our property values and ensure a stable economic climate for years to come.”
Jane holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Purdue University and a Master of Education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She was a 12-year member of the Zionsville School Board, and currently serves on the Hussey-Mayfield Library Foundation Board and the Zionsville Lions Club, among others. She and her husband, Claude, have two grown children, Kristin and Thomas.
The primary election to determine Republican and Democratic nominees will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.Add your news summary here.S&P Bond Rating Reduction Will Cost Zionsville More Money!
“Last week, Zionsville citizens learned that S&P Global (S&P) has lowered the bond rating for the Town of Zionsville. The rating, which had been at AA+ since 2014, has now been lowered to AA with a negative outlook. In the S&P report, it is clear that the most recent findings by the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) 2021 audit were the key driver in this downgrade. Absence of internal controls, lack of financial transparency, unapproved expenditures and misappropriated funds were the headlines of that report.
To add insult to injury, it is apparent that the Mayor’s lack of any meaningful response to the SBOA audit report did little to inspire the confidence of the S&P analysts looking ahead for improvements.
This is still another example of how this Mayor is costing the taxpayers more of our money. In addition to legal expenses incurred from Mayor Styron suing the Town Council and spending funds that were not approved, she has now caused our Town’s bond rating to fall, which translates to higher interest costs and debt service costs as we move forward.
If I have the privilege of being elected your next Zionsville Mayor, I pledge to return our administration to a strong financial body, with transparency and solid internal controls. We will work hard to eliminate these egregious SBOA findings to ensure that the bond rating agency is once again confident in our leadership and our finances. Most importantly, we will restore the confidence of our citizens in the office of Mayor.”
Zionsville State Board of Accounts Report Very Troubling.
Jane Burgess on the Zionsville State Board of Accounts report
“The Zionsville State Board of Accounts audit report for 2021 is very troubling. Our mayor must operate within the law and spend funds appropriately and with transparency. The Zionsville Town Council asked questions repeatedly on many financially related and operational matters pertaining to lack of internal controls, lack of financial information, and unapproved expenditures by Mayor Emily Styron only to have been met with silence. Circumventing the legal process of expenditures is unacceptable. I have full confidence the town council will provide the necessary oversight, set a corrective path, be transparent, and ensure Zionsville is protected. A full accounting is expected by the public and I know the council will work to reestablish the trust that has been lost through Mayor Styron’s actions. We must address the failures, take a hard look at internal controls, and act where appropriate:
- First, we need to strengthen and put teeth in laws to protect taxpayers should a mayor misappropriate dollars. In this case, Mayor Styron inappropriately made disbursements and entered a contract related to "a town hall renovation project," that had been rejected by the council, totaling $202,585. 1 Mayor Styron placed our town at great risk when she circumvented the appropriate procedure to seek approval and spent the funds anyway when it was not approved. Communities have little recourse against such rogue elected officials. I will engage State leaders to find ways to stop expenditures that are not approved in the future.
- Second, Mayor Styron approved use of Town Purchasing Cards (i.e., credit cards) to circumvent the normal spending process. Some were used for gift cards and the audit states "The Town Purchasing Card may not be used to purchase items that are not in accordance with the Town of Zionsville’s payment and procurement rules and the audit states gift cards are expressly prohibited." The report also cited “seven charges of $15,000 each, made for monthly legal fees paid to the Town’s attorney.” Government credit cards have proven to be fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse when controls are not in place and strictly followed. The mayor must immediately reclaim unnecessary cards, implement education, training, and control measures to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Third, there has been a complete lack of transparency and collaboration with the council in development of the town’s budget. The council has placed a timeline for the administration to present the budget only for Mayor Styron to dismiss it. Taxpayers deserve transparency in the budget process and for collaboration with the council. Moreover, I am concerned the mayor diverted $75,000 from the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund for Town Hall renovations, not following legal requirements for the use of these funds which should be related to public highways and/or other transportation related uses. The audit states, "Sources and uses of funds must be limited to those authorized by the enabling law, ordinance/resolution, or grant agreement." 3 The mayor’s actions again place Zionsville at risk.
Zionsville deserves better. The State Board of Accounts report is disconcerting, and it only addresses the challenges in 2021. Guardrails, timelines, transparency, legal requirements, and collaboration should be followed to protect against the improper use of public dollars. Misuse of tax dollars is never acceptable. My administration will follow the law, will work collaboratively and transparently with the council, and we will always place what is best for the community above all else."
Watch this news story on WISH TV
(See links to the State Board of Accounts reports— B59594 and B59595)
1 State Board of Accounts. Supplemental Compliance Report of Town of Zionsville Boone County, Indiana. January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021
2 Ibid., 26.
3 Ibid., 25.
Congratulations on joining the 33rd Lugar Series Class
Join us in welcoming Jane and other Hoosier woman making an impact and demonstrating leadership in their communities at the Opening Reception on October 20th. Register here.
Audit shows lack of control in Zionsville, questions $800,000 in spending
The Indiana State Board of Accounts audit has cited Zionsville government for several hundred thousand of dollars of questionable spending, including more than $200,000 of renovation work at a three-year-old building.
Read more on WISH TV
Jane Burgess for Zionsville Mayor
Today, Jane Burgess provided an update on the formation of her exploratory committee for Mayor of Zionsville. She is a 20-year resident who has deep ties to Zionsville and has been dedicated to community service.
“I love Zionsville, the community feel and the people who make it so special. We are proud to call this charming place home and I want to be the leader to make sure the feeling remains.” Jane continued, “I am running for Mayor of Zionsville to ensure that what makes Zionsville such a special place endures while we work together to plan and build for the years ahead.”
To chart the way forward Jane feels it is important to do a “reset”. “We can build a stronger, better future for our community through transparency and trust. Zionsville deserves a Mayor and Town Council who work well together. Collaboration, cooperation, and a spirit of working together needs to once again be a top priority. As Mayor, I want Zionsville to be the kind of community where our kids want to return and raise their families; a community where there are good jobs and an excellent quality of life. I believe this is all possible.”
Having held hundreds of meetings with local residents and businesses, Jane has heard common themes of leadership, public safety, and sensible economic development surface as top priorities for the next mayor. These critical themes will be foundational elements of her “reset” plan. Click here to learn more.
