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REGULAR MEETING <br />SEPTEMBER 10, 2007 <br />BILL N0.54-07 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL LEVYING <br />TAXES AND FIXING THE RATE OF <br />TAXATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING <br />REVENUE TO MEET THE NECESSARY <br />EXPENSES OF THE CIVIL CITY OF SOUTH <br />BEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING <br />DECEMBER 31, 2008 <br />BILL N0.55-07 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL <br />APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE <br />PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF <br />SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE CIVIL <br />CITY OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA FOR THE <br />FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2008 <br />AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2008, <br />INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS <br />AND OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME <br />WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT <br />BILL N0.56-07 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE <br />COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH <br />BEND APPROPRIATING MONIES FOR THE <br />PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF <br />THE DESIGNATED ENTERPRISE FUNDS OF <br />THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FOR <br />THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, <br />2008 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2008, <br />INCLUDING ALL OUTSTANDING CLAIMS <br />AND OBLIGATIONS, AND FIXING A TIME <br />WHEN THE SAME SHALL TAKE EFFECT <br />Councilmember Puzzello made a motion to combine these bills for purposes of Public <br />Hearing. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of <br />eight (8) ayes. <br />Councilmember Pfeifer, Chairperson, Personnel and Finance Committee, reported that <br />this committee has heard questions and answers on these bills and will continue to have <br />discussions on these bills. She noted that the dates and times will be announced next <br />week. <br />Mayor Stephen Luecke, 14th Floor County-City Building, South Bend, Indiana, made the <br />presentation for this bill. Mayor Luecke stated that despite the multiple strains of <br />decreasing revenues and increasing costs, South Bend has been able to maintain a solid <br />financial position." Although the city has continued to budget cash reserves, the city still <br />needs to use tax anticipation warrants because the City hasn't received its distribution of <br />property tax revenues. Borrowing will cost the city nearly $400,000 this year, and the <br />Mayor reiterated that if the state doesn't send its certified tax rates soon the city may need <br />to borrow again next year. Mayor Luecke stated that the "property tax system" is broken <br />and needs to be fixed. He stated that it is a travesty that we are in our ninth month of the <br />year and still do not have a certified budget, nor the information that they need to make <br />precise projections for our 2008 budget. Mayor Luecke stated that they need the state to <br />certify tax rates so tax bills can go out. He noted that preliminary numbers from the state <br />show a 3.4 percent decline in the city's property tax rate this year, and the city is <br />budgeting to hold that rate constant for 2008. He noted that the state allows up to a 3.7 <br />percent levy, but, the city is budgeting for only a 2 percent growth in property taxes. <br />Mayor Luecke stated that this will prepare the city to contain spending in the future, in <br />preparation for the full impact of the Circuit Breaker in 2010. Mayor Luecke stated that <br />city department heads have done a good job tightening their budgets, while gasoline and <br />