09-14-09 Public reviews 2010 budget; Code restored to full time

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Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE September 14, 2009 3:30 p.m. Public reviews 2010 budget; Code restored to full time Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 Neighborhood code enforcement inspectors will be restored to full-time in the City of South Bend’s proposed 2010 budget that comes before a public hearing at tonight’s South Bend Common Council meeting. Inspectors in the Department of Code Enforcement originally had proposed cutting back to 32-hour work weeks as a way to retain all staff. But Mayor Stephen J. Luecke said the priority given to undiminished code enforcement during the Council’s summer budget hearings led City officials to re-adjust other allocations in order to retain all Code inspectors at full-time levels. The public hearing takes place in the city council’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the fourth floor Council Chambers of the County-City Building. Here are other highlights of the proposed 2010 budget: ? GENERAL FUND BUDGET CUT 8%: The City’s General Fund budget for 2010 of $61.954 million represents an 8 reduction due to revenues lost as a result of the property tax cuts. ? PUBLIC SAFETY AT FULL STRENGTH: Thanks to the Public Safety Local Option Income Tax and federal stimulus funding, the Police and Fire departments are budgeted at full strength for 2010. The Police department has funding for 260 sworn officers, while the Fire department can sustain 248 sworn firefighters. While the additional funding restores the on-street public safety presence, it allows no room for new operations growth. Collective bargaining negotiations continue with representatives of employees in both police and fire departments to make changes to allow the fund restoration to work effectively to deliver services. ? PARKS FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS PRESERVED: Local Option Income