10-28-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBERT 28, 2013 BILL NO. 44-13 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, LEVYING TAXES AND FIXING THE RATE OF TAXATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING REVENUE TO MEET THE NECESSARY EXPENSES OF THE CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH BEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014 Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski Farrand: At this stage I would recommend that there is a substitute version of Bill No. 44-13 that has been filed by the City Administration. The Committee’s disposition of that should be made of record and then the appropriate motion. Councilmember Varner, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on Bill No. 44-13 this afternoon and a substitute was recommended and approved and voted to send it to the full Council a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Varner made a motion to consider the substitute version of this bill as on file with the City Clerk. Councilmember Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Mayor Buttigieg: Thank you Councilmembers for the opportunity to present this evening the latest iteration of the budget for which we have all been working since earlier this year. The goal is to create a budget that allow us to fund the vital priorities that the city is responsible for. At the same time continuing to change the way we do business in the city, which requires that budget for that as well, and we make sure that we are making the investments that are required in order to create a city where people want to live and a kind of city where businesses will want to invest. Let me ask a quick point of order to be sure that I am being correct procedurally. Is this the right time to present as well the accompanying bill for salaries? Chairperson White: No that is a separate action when we get to Bill 53-13. Mayor Buttigieg: Thank you. I wanted to make sure we are following proper procedure. Chairperson White: This is to allow you the opportunity if you would like to give any summary comments regarding Bills 44-13; 45-13 and 46-13. Mayor Buttigieg: In brief, the effort, we will begin with the bill levying taxes and fixing the rate of taxation. I am going to defer to our Deputy Controller John Murphy. th John Murphy, Deputy Controller, 12 Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for Substitute Bill No. 44-13. John Murphy: Substitute Bill No. 44-13 is the one levying taxes and fixing the rate of property taxation for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. This was discussed in committee. It’s a requirement; it’s somewhat of a place holder amount we have to calculate an amount for property tax rates for the General Fund; Parks & Recreation fund; Cumulative Capital Development; Redevelopment; Hall of Fame fund. We set an amount, we set a rate, then the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance in February of 2014 reviews all of our information, our budget, our assessed values, our income, and they actually set the property tax rate for us, so our rate will be adjusted, it’s typically, we set it a little higher advertisement and it’s typically adjusted downward. So, that’s the process that will happen in February of 2014. Any questions on this bill? Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand: I would recommend that if the Council so desires that it may be appropriate to have a motion now to dispose of Substitute Bill No. 44-13, since the genesis of past discussions can focus on the two budget bills. 2