Star Editorial: We can see water deal clearly 7.26.10

The Indianapolis Star

For good reason, journalists, and editorial writers in particular, frequently harp on the need for government at all levels to operate in as transparent a manner as possible. It's only fair then to praise elected leaders when they take that duty seriously.

Such has been the case with Mayor Greg Ballard's handling of the proposed sale of the city's water and sewer works to Citizens Energy.

Although this editorial page and others raised initial concerns about how city negotiators reached a deal with Citizens, the subsequent public review has answered all the pertinent questions about whether taxpayers and ratepayers could have received a better bargain through a different bidder.

In recent months, residents have had ample opportunity to listen to and question Ballard and other city leaders at several public forums. City-County Council members, expected to vote on the measure tonight, have had more than enough time and access to information to make an informed decision on the proposed deal. And an in-depth written review of the utility transfer ordinance has been available to council members and the news media for the past month.

Of course, not all critics of the transfer will be swayed on the merits of the proposal, but none of them can argue credibly that they didn't have access to sufficient information.

That's not to say that every question about what may happen in the future can be answered now. If the deal is approved tonight, as it should be, city leaders and residents are to a certain extent trusting that Citizens Energy will continue to operate in the same professional and accessible manner that it has in the past. They also will be counting on Citizens to achieve the level of cost savings that the organization has promised ratepayers.

In short, there is risk involved in the sale, as there inevitably must be in a deal of this size and complexity.

But it's a reasonable risk, and it's one residents should be all the more willing to accept because they've been openly presented with not only the highlights of the proposal but also the intricate details.

Elected officials have to relinquish a bit of control when they decide to operate transparently, but their reward is a better-informed constituency that's much more likely to follow their lead.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100726/OPINION08/7260302/1291/OPINION08/We-can-see-water-deal-clearly