Urging the Indiana General Assembly to Amend the Relevant State Laws to Enable the Municipal Budget Process more Efficiently & Effectively

Home Browse Search

RESOLUTION NO. 1742 -89 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, URGING THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO AMEND THE RELEVANT STATE LAWS TO ENABLE THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET PROCESS TO BE CONDUCTED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, recognizes that municipalities throughout the State of Indiana are governed by a myriad of state laws addressing the levying of taxes and the fixing of rates of taxation; and WHEREAS, those taxes are dependant upon the assessed valuation of the governmental entities which are determined by the various township assessors throughout the state; and WHEREAS, pursuant to current state law the tax rate must be legally published in early August; and WHEREAS, the assessed valuation is not known until October; and WHEREAS, this time difference results in a growing concern that the process becomes, less than meaningful and discourages public participation. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, as follows: Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, respectfully requests that the state and local governmental officials involved in the budgetary process begin to have meaningful discussions on this statewide issue. Section II. The City of South Bend offers its positive support and assistance in addressing these concerns so that the public process of fixing rates of taxation and the levying of taxes becomes more effective and efficient. Section III. The City of South Bend, Indiana, recommends that the motor vehicle highway (MVH) allocation process be specifically reviewed in order to create a more equitable process of allocating such funds to cities and counties. Section IV. The City of South Bend recommends that other governmental entities join in this endeavor so that the process can be improved and encourages discussion of it at the upcoming meeting of the Indiana Association of Cities and Town (IACT) in September; and further encourages discussion with state and local governmental representatives.