IDEM Budget Woes Detailed

Funding for the Indiana agency that oversees hazardous spills and the safety of water and air has been decreasing over the last decade, a report by a nonprofit organization concludes. The Environmental Integrity Project’s report also says the slashes in funding for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management happened even as the state government’s spending budget increased. Officials add IDEM’s budget lost nearly $35 million in the last decade, accounting for inflation. The agency’s budget comes from various sources, including the state’s overall fund, federal money and income from waste permit fees.