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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting -July 18, 2008 <br />4. COMMUNICATIONS (CONT.) <br />Golf Course Owners Assn communication: <br />community combined. "However this does not nor <br />should it imply government and business should be <br />competitors. <br />Currently, the city of South Bend owns and operates golf <br />courses, banquet facilities and a health club. These <br />operations directly and unfairly compete with private <br />owned businesses in St Joseph County. Many of the <br />cities facilities are not able to stand alone financially <br />and add a burden to taxpayers and the city's budget. <br />For the city to operate facilities that the private sector <br />already provides is un American and goes against the <br />Free Enterprise System. Not only are we faced with <br />unfair competition from the government but our <br />property taxes are used to work against ourselves. <br />We are forming a coalition of businesses that are faced <br />with unfair municipal competition and the number of <br />affected businesses is staggering. As the current <br />Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce I hope that you <br />will concur with our efforts. <br />Because I know that you are in the insurance business, I <br />would like you to imagine if the city of South Bend <br />decided that it sounded like a good idea to open an <br />insurance agency. They would not pay property or sales <br />tax and would utilize staff from other departments to <br />implement and administer. Of course they would not be <br />profit motivated so they could offer premiums much <br />lower than what the private sector does and could use <br />tax revenue to subsidize the program. Having been in <br />business for over 35 years I have never had difficulty <br />finding great insurance from the private sector at <br />affordable prices. This example isn't any different than <br />owning and operating golf courses, banquet center and <br />fitness facilities. <br />