09-23-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 Councilmember Dieter stated that the Council and Administration’s priorities were the most critical. He stated that the Police Budget will be heard tomorrow September 24, 2013 at 4:00 p.m., here in the Council Informal Meeting Room. He stated that the next Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting will be held October 7, 2013 here in the Council Informal Meeting Room at 4:00 p.m. Councilmember Schey asked if the tax caps are still in place in 2014? Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr., asked about the 210 jobs being created and how does the math add up? He also questioned the 95% tax collection rate. Mr. Neal stated that the collection rate for property taxes varies from year to year. However, the average has been approximately 95%. Councilmember White thanked the administration for all their hard work and time going into the 2014 City of South Bend Budget. There was no one present wishing to speak in favor of these bills. The following individuals spoke in opposition to these bills: Jesse Davis, P. O. Box 10205, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to these bills. He stated that assessed values are up higher and they don’t need to go up any more. Rev. Greg Brown, 1238 Diamond, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in opposition to these bills. He urged the assessor’s office not to raise assessed values. He stated that they need to guarantee more police. In rebuttal, Mayor Buttigieg explained the need to increase total assessed value in the city overall, not to raise a home’s assessed value. He stated that we need to increase the tax base and add properties to the tax rolls which will increase the value of the economy. There being no one else present wishing to speak to the Council in opposition to these bills, Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to continue Bill Nos. 44-14; 45-13; and 46-13 until the October 14, 2013 in the Council Portion Only. Councilmember Schey seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 47-13 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING, ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE SOUTH BEND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION’S 2014 BUDGET AND LEVYING THE TAX AND FIXING THE RATE OF THE TAXATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING REVENUE TO FUND THE SOUTH BEND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CORPORATION, SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014 Councilmember White, Vice-Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported that this committee met this afternoon on this bill and voted to send it to the full Council with favorable recommendation. David Cangany, General Manager, South Bend Public Transportation Corporation (TRANSPO), 1401 S. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Cangany advised that with the recent enactment of Indiana law, Transpo is required to submit its proposed budget and tax levy to the City of South Bend Common Council (the 10