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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-2009 NewsletterSEPTEMBER 2009 Letter from the Mayor What your taxes have saved Dear Friends and Neighbors, During the past several months, we have had extensive public discussion about how to provide sustainable funding for local government. Property tax caps, which take effect this year, provide a savings for property owners. That savings will be even greater in 2010 when the caps reach their final level. However, those savings also mean a corresponding loss of revenue for cities and towns, schools, libraries and county government. We expect to lose $22 million in revenue just for the City of South Bend. Despite ongoing efforts to streamline our workforce and find more efficient ways to deliver services, the projected revenue loss put essential city functions at risk. Because of concern for maintaining key services, the South Bend and St. Joseph County councils voted in July to enact an additional 0.95 percent local option income tax to replace some of the revenue lost to the property tax caps. South Bend will still cut $6 million to $8 million from its budget for 2010, but with the support of these new revenues, we are able to fund top priorities for our community. Through surveys, Town Hall meetings and public hearings, we heard that economic development, public safety, streets and park programming are highly valued by our residents. During the income tax hearings, many people spoke about the importance of these services to quality of life in our community. As we finalize our 2010 budget, we are putting new local income taxes into public safety and parks programs: • Retaining police and firefighters — The new 0.25 percent public safety tax, combined with a federal stimulus grant, will allow us to fill 14 vacant positions and to retain current sworn officers in our police and fire departments. This will bring both departments to full strength. Without these funds, we had expected to cut 70 police and fire positions. • Preserving key park facilities and programs —Additional revenue will help us keep open several facilities threatened with closure: two city swimming pools and the East Race Waterway, Howard Park Ice Rink, as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. and Charles Black Sr. recreation centers. It will also allow us to continue several swimming recreation programs. • Saving nearly 100 vital positions citywide — Despite cutting 26 positions in 2009 and planning to reduce another 55 in 2010, the City avoided a far worse scenario. We would have needed to cut an additional 98 positions had the local income taxes not passed. Most of them would have been police and firefighters, since these departments receive more than two- thirds of property-tax revenues. Preventing the elimination of essential city services — Because of global economic conditions, the cuts in City services would have needed to have been greater than originally anticipated. The new income taxes helped to avert disastrous cuts, but we understand that there is still a need to find more efficiencies in the delivery of services. We are committed to continued streamlining. Next month, I'll describe the cuts we've made this year and for 2010 that will help us continue to live within our means. Sincerely, THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter Eddy Street Commons Leaf Pickup Fire Prevention Open House Homebuyer's Programs Fall Family Fun Fair Date Correction Fall Into Fun Park & Rec. Events Football Friday's Block Party S.B. Animal Care & Control Eddy Street Commons at Notre Dame is open! The first residential component of Eddy Street Commons, The Foundry Lofts & Apartments, welcomed resi- dents to the new mixed use development on August 15 and the "for sale" residential is under construction. Retailers will begin opening in Sep- tember and will continue throughout the year as shops and restaurants complete their construction. Be sure to stop by Eddy Street Commons to welcome them to South Bend! SI USTED NO ENTIENDE INGLES Y NE- CESITA AYUDA PARA TRADUCIR ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE ALGUNA PREGUNTA, POR FAVOR LLAME AL OPERATION RELEAF REMINDER As we approach Fall in South Bend, it is time to plan for the annual loose leaf pickup program throughout the city. The City of South Bend is offering this service be- ginning Monday November 2nd and III continuing through December 4th. When preparing leaves for pickup, F residents are asked to follow these guidelines: Keep leaves on the curb line, not in the street. Do not contaminate leaf piles with sticks, trash, and other debris that will damage the leaf vacs. Vehicles should never park on top of leaves raked onto the street. Burning of leaves is prohibited in the City of South Bend. Leaves must be raked to the curb by 6 a.m. the morning of your regularly scheduled trash pickup day. If you miss your scheduled pickup, or have leaves left after the loose leaf program is completed, you may can also bag leaves for the City's regular Yard Waste pickup program. All leaves are taken to Organic Resources and recycled into high quality mulch and compost, thereby diverting them from our landfill!! Free mulch and compost are available by calling 287 -6841. Pickup schedules will be available in the South Bend Tribune. If you need more information please visit the website at: SouthBendIN.gov /releaf or call 235 -9244. Fire Prevention Onen House! The Fire Department's annual Fire Prevention Open House will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2009 from 1 to 4pm at our Central Station, 1222 S. Michigan St. There will be Refreshments, face painting, extrication demonstrations, "Fire Pup ", and more. In the Market for a New Home? The City of South Bend can help!!! The following programs for first -time home buyers may be used together or separately to purchase a home within the South Bend City limits-, eligibility is based on income guidelines: Community Homebuyers Program Grants up to $19,000 are available to assist with the purchase of your home. Interest rates are competitive, no PMI (private mortgage insurance) required. Lower mortgage payments due to assistance with use of the grant. Reward Program Grants of up to $1,000 available to assist you. This grant assists toward down payment and closing costs for your mortgage. For more information call the Division of Community Development at 235 -9475. Fall Family Fun Fair (Date Correction) (Saturday, October 10, 2009) The Fall Family Fun Fair will be at Rum Village Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Great family fun— Plan to attend! FALL INTO FUN! ! Nights of Fright, October 23 - 25 ♦ Haunted Asylum - chills, thrills, scares & screams! ♦ Kiddie Kam -Evil - for the little ones: games, bouncers, and kid - friendly guests ♦ Creepy Kitchen - spooky snacks & drinks ♦ Newman Recreation Center, Northside Blvd. g Sample St. Bridge Zoo Boo at Potawatomi Zoo, Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th, 6 -9 p.m. Little Zoo Boo, for 7 and under, Sunday, October 25th, noon -4 p.m. O'Brien Skate Park Fall hours 4:30 -10:00 p.m. Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. Saturday 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday Leeper Tennis Center Fall hours 3:00 -7:00 p. m. Monday - Friday 8:00 -2:00 p. m. Saturday 12:00 -6:00 p.m. Sunday For information about any of these events please call the SB Parks & Recreation Department at 299 -4768 ext. 239 or visit the website sbpark.org. Football Friday's Block Party Jumpstart your weekend by attending the Football Friday's Block Party. Every Friday night, 5 -9 PM before every Notre Dame home football game. Held in the 100 block of Michigan St. near the College Football Hall of Fame. The downtown block is closed and filled with tents, great food, live music, game day merchandise and fun activities. Bring your friends or the whole family. Admission is just $3. Kids under 12 are free. Live entertainment from 6 -9 PM. Live Music Headliners September 4— Mack Pherson & The Struts (Nevada) September 18— Vyagra Falls (Michigan State) October 2— StillShot (Washington) October 16— Take Aim (Southern California) October 23— Peach Tree Otis (Boston College) n w . s w Swth Bend Bit Mishawaka Fall in Love this Football Season! Meet that "special someone" at the South Bend Animal Care and Control Shelter. You're sure to find a perfect companion when you stop by and visit us at 105 Olive St. in South Bend. From Septem- ber 1, through December 31, 2009 you can save $25 off the normal adoption fees when you use your CARE Capital Campaign Card. Certain restrictions apply. For more information, please visit: www.careofsouthbend.or2 Credit approval required. Terms and conditions apply. Offered by Capital One® Card Lab Connect and Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., member FDIC. ©2009 Capital One. Visit Our Website at www SouthBendIN.gov! 416H +M