06-2008 Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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so JINNI 2008 Letter from the Mayor Dear Friends and Neighbors, In last month's newsletter I reported on many exciting economic development projects under way in South Bend and the anticipation that more great announcements connected to the research park and the Nanoelectronics Institute will follow. (Read more online at www.southbendin.lzov /city /mayor /state_of the_city.asp.) My enthusiasm for these devel- opments is tempered by the significant funding challenges that face cities across our state. In Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." That captures how I feel about our current situation. "The best of times" is reflected in the many ways South Bend is moving forward and the great opportunities we have. Yet, at this critical time, the City of South Bend is projected to lose almost $19 million a year in revenue. We may not have the resources we need to maintain full city services or support new jobs and investment. That makes for "the worst of times." South Bend faces many of the same challenges as our hard- working residents: skyrocketing health and fuel costs, an uncertain national economy and the increase in the state's sales tax. Many families are struggling from these unanticipated expenses. For our city government, these rising costs are compounded by the loss of significant revenue. The City of South Bend will lose 20 percent of its budget for public safety, parks and other government functions and as much as 50 percent of resources that support economic de- velopment. This begins happening in 2009 and reaches its full impact in 2010 as a result of property tax caps. I strongly supported property tax reform — we had become too heav- ily reliant on property taxes to fund local services. But the process has put many cities and towns in a financial bind that will lead to an increase in local income taxes. Recently I met with city departments heads and the city council to clarify the impact. I've assigned targeted reductions in 2009 and 2010 to all city departments. We're doing an efficiency review of all city services. And I've challenged staff to create budgets that are realistic and provide the services our residents expect. But without replacement revenue there will be cuts to some programs and services. I've invited all city staff to be creative and entrepreneurial to find cost savings and to do our jobs better. Our creativity will lead to improved efficiency, with streamlined services and high -tech solutions. We've been working on this already, reducing city personnel by 95 positions since 2000 and saving millions of dollars without reducing services. Streets are swept with one -third the staff in 2000, while snow is plowed with half the number of workers. Like the fighter Rocky of movie lore, I know we can take a hit and keep moving forward. Still, this will affect our ability to invest in the great economic development opportunities that support good jobs in South Bend. If we are unable to find new revenue, this also will lead to elimination of services, closing of facilities and likely staffing reductions. No area will be untouched. My commitment to you is that the City of South Bend will find new savings through new innovations, that we will continue to deliver vital services in order to keep the forward momentum we've established. But we will also have public dialogue about the resources needed to adequately fund the services you want. We're winners in South Bend. We be- lieve in ourselves and our ability to persevere, to overcome obstacles and to achieve. We will conquer our challenges because we believe in synergy and opportunity, not division, doom and despair. Sincerely, Mayor Steve THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter Fridays by the Fountain TCU Kids Triathlon Green Tips Fireworks Safety Enshrinement Festival Fridays by the • Fountain 2008 • • Join us on Fridays in the smnmer to listen to some great music while • • you eat your lunch. Fridays by the • • Fountain is happening on June 13 • • • & 27, July 11 & 25, and August 8 &22. • • The stage is located at Jon Hunt • • Park, right in front of the Morns Performing Arts Center. The con- • • certs are free and run from 11:30 • • a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For questions, • • • please contact the Morris at • 235 -9198. • • Swim '� '� • SiKa Kun • • 25 Yards 1.3 miles l mile • • TCU 8th Annual Kids • Triathlon • • The 8th Annual TCU Kids Triath- • Ion is on July 26, 2008. The race • • begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Potawa- • • tomi Park Swimming Pool, next to • Potawatomi Zoo and Kids King- • dom. Kids must be between the • • ages of 5 - 12 and registration is • • • required for all participants. • • "Every Kid is a Winner" in • • • this race, each participant will re- • • ceive a race T -shirt, finish medal, • post -race food, snacks, and awards • for age division winners. • • For more information, regis- tration forms, or to volunteer at the • • Triathlon, visit sbpark.org/ • fitnesscenter /triathlon.htm, or call • • 299 -4768 ext. 239. • • ♦ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •