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CITY OF SOUTH BEND i OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> receive a portion of those revenues, as well. There are two (2) funds today that account for EMS
<br /> capital operations. Now to me,there's a conflict, and this is probably more of the opinion side than
<br /> the fact side, that's the fact. The opinion side is there's a benefit to having EMS operations in the
<br /> General Fund in that that is the way the Fire Department operates. It's not as though we have a Fire
<br /> Department and an EMS Department. We have a Fire Department that does both fire-fighting and
<br /> EMS. So,from an operational perspective and trying to make the accounting match the operations,
<br /> I think there's a benefit to having the operations in the General Fund. But today, EMS operations
<br /> has its own fund, and EMS capital has its own fund.
<br /> Committeemember Voorde stated, Yeah. I thought because so much money was going in there
<br /> that they became creative about how they spent it.
<br /> Mr. Parker replied, Well, it is an interesting discussion. I don't think that there is anybody in the
<br /> City that would say that EMS is self-sustaining. I think that the revenue they bring in is not
<br /> sufficient to cover the level of expenditure that we have, especially when you take into account
<br /> the capital, the ambulances, all the trucks and all the things that they need. There does need to be
<br /> some taxing to make their operations work.
<br /> Committeemember Voorde followed up, The question of the Hazmat stuff came up the other day,
<br /> and I asked if we still contract with other agencies like the Toll Road. Apparently, we have not
<br /> since the Toll Road went private, and that's understandable. But because it's an expensive
<br /> undertaking, I wonder if there's any other way we get revenue. The Fire Department, or fire
<br /> services, has this funny thing where it's a mutual paid kind of a deal, but it seems like you've got
<br /> to be careful about what you're offering in mutual aid because somebody will take advantage of
<br /> you. You know? So, anyway, I don't know if this is a roundhouse question.
<br /> Mr. Parker replied, I'm not familiar enough with the Hazmat financial law.
<br /> Committeemember Voorde followed up, We got it and it's one (1) of those things you have to
<br /> have, and we had such a good one(1)that we were able to offer services to other people. Now, we
<br /> don't want to give services away, necessarily, is what I was getting at. I'm not saying they did.
<br /> But could Mishawaka sit back and say, "Hey, we need your Hazmat."?
<br /> Mr. Parker replied, It's an interesting parallel to what might be happening right now in the Police
<br /> crime lab. So, the Police crime lab, historically, has done analysis for many local jurisdictions,
<br /> essentially for free. I think there are conversations going on right now to see if we can change that
<br /> and if we can actually charge.
<br /> Bill Dunn, 1620 Southwood Avenue, interjected, I don't know if you know this, on the two(2)TIF
<br /> bonds,those revenues are based on, I thought I read that they're based on the anticipation that there
<br /> will be an increase of taxes at those projects when they're completed. Eddy Street, for example,
<br /> would generate property taxes.
<br /> Mr. Parker replied, Right, and it's kind of baked into the whole concept of TIF as a mindset or a
<br /> concept. TIF is designed so that we invest in projects to raise property values to drive more
<br /> property tax revenue. That's the purpose of all of it, including the projects that are financed with
<br /> TIF funds.
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 (574.235.9173 111)574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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