Laserfiche WebLink
REGULAR MEETING <br />SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 <br />Councilmember Varner, Vice-Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported <br />that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the <br />full Council with a favorable recommendation. <br />Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council <br />concerning this bill. Councilmember Kuspa seconded the motion which carried by a <br />voice vote of seven (7) ayes. <br />Mayor Luecke, 14a` Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, thanked the <br />Council for the diligence that they have given in reviewing this budget. The City Budget <br />is a complicated document that sets the blueprint for expenditures for next year. It really <br />sets the City's priorities for expenditures for the coming year and as continues to be the <br />case has had been the case ever since he has been Mayor and probably ever since the City <br />was founded, public safety remains the number priority in terms of funding for the City <br />of South Bend. In addition, to funding police and fire this budget funds, the parks, <br />utilities, services provided to this community and it funds them in a very fair and <br />equitable manner and he is proud to say despite the pressures that have been placed on <br />communities all across the state, the City of South Bend has been able to maintain a <br />strong budget and have been able to continue to budget for reserve that are important for <br />the City in terms of both cash flow and bond rating and the ability to sustain unexpected <br />expenses such as having to borrow money because the tax payments have not come in yet <br />or in the event of a severe blizzard in the winter having dollars available to pay overtime <br />to clear the streets. He stated that this budget is a sound budget, it's a solid budget, it <br />does not budget for the maximum dollars that the City could levy for out of property <br />taxes. That is that they holding the property taxes a million and half dollars below what <br />they could in order to be respectful to the taxpayers. It also attempts to hold the property <br />tax rate even, anticipating a 2% growth in assessed value for next year. He stated that <br />they are trying to resourceful and trying to provide additional services with fewer people, <br />this budget does reduce the number of positions across several different departments and <br />brings to 95 the total number of positions that have been reduced out of City employment <br />since the year 2000. But it continues to provide full services to the community as they <br />have come to expect from the City of South Bend. <br />Councilmember Varner stated that this may seem like it is happening rather fast, but <br />before the Council is done this evening they will levy taxes, approve grants, approve <br />loans, and basically authorize the spending of approximately 187 million dollars. That is <br />for the entire City of South Bend and is something that has led to a dozen or so meetings <br />that have been held over the past month or so. There have been a number of agreements <br />and disagreements, and a few remain, but he thinks that most people would appreciate the <br />fact that the levy will be held at 2% because it could have been set at 3.6% or 4%. This is <br />one small step in their effort to get property taxes which have been rather high in this area <br />in the range where we are competitive with other communities. He stated that he would <br />like to do is to appeal to people sitting out here tonight to spend a little more time <br />attending these meetings as well as the budget meetings. As they begin next year, they <br />are advertised and the Council will alert the public when they will begin so they can clear <br />their schedules to attend. This budget is a lot of money but for the most part responsibly <br />spent, but he stated that he cringes a little bit every time he talks about 185, 187, or next <br />year 201 million dollars. He wishes that more people had he same concern and expressed <br />their interest it could be a better budget, if there were more public participation. <br />BILL NO. 40-07 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL AMENDING THE <br />ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED <br />BETWEEN 3466 AND 17210 DOUGLAS ROAD AND <br />SOUTH OF 17210 AND 17242 DOUGLAS ROAD AND <br />APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET EAST OF S.R. 23, <br />COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT 4 IN THE CITY OF <br />SOUTH BEND, INDIANA <br />