HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-20 Community Investment 450UTH ii,„
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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
DAWN M.JONES, CITY CLERK
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 5, 2020 6:07 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Jake Teshka, Rachel Tomas Morgan
Thomas Kurzhal (Citizen Member)
Committee Members Absent: Sharon L. McBride
Other Council Present: Karen L. White, Lori Hamann
Sheila Niezgodski
Other Council Absent: Tim Scott, Henry Davis Jr., Troy Warner
Others Present: Dawn Jones, Bob Palmer, Lisa Horton
Agenda: Community Investment-Business
Development Overview and Activities
Presenters: Dan Buckenmeyer, Director of Business
Development-Community Investment
Department
Dan Buckenmeyer, Director of Business Development for the Department of Community
Investment with offices on the 14th floor of the County-City building gave an introduction or all
the key staff members of Business Licensing, Workforce Development and other staff members
that assist with things such as Tax Abatements etc. Mr. Buckenmeyer' s power point presentation
(which can be obtained in the City Clerk's Office) touched on topics that dealt with Business
Licensing, which licenses approximately thirty-five (35) different types of business including
Arborists, Automotive Repair & Service Centers, Food Trucks, Peddlers, Restaurants, Massage
Establishments, Tattoo Establishments and Taxi Companies & Drivers. The Business Licensing
Department assists the public with licensing and permitting procedures and ensures that businesses
are compliant with City, County and State regulations.
Mr. Buckenmeyer stated regarding Opportunity Zones,The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created
Opportunity Zones. Opportunity Zones (OZs) are defined as "economically-distressed
communities where new investments,under certain conditions,may be eligible for preferential tax
treatment." Through the IRS, investors can file a Form 8896 to create a Qualified Opportunity
INTEGRITY' SERVICEI ACCESSIBILITY
BIANCA L.TRIAD° GRAHAM D.SPARKS GABRIEL N.MuREL
CHIEF DEPUTY/DIREC'T'OR OF OPERATIONS DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 I f 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov
CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Fund vehicle structured as either a partnership or corporation for the purpose of investing in an OZ
census track, whether in real estate or directly in businesses. To participate, essentially a taxpayer
must sell an asset and generate a capital gain. The taxpayer then puts the capital gain into a
Qualified OZ fund.There is ultimately delay and reduction of taxes owed to the government if you
hold your investment in some of these opportunity zones from funds, you essentially pay no tax
on your returns.There is no City-controlled incentive,there is no City-designated award or benefit,
there is no City contribution. The City is therefore a convener and supporter but not a direct
participant except when we can further incentivize development in these census tracts by
combining other incentives such as TIF or Tax Abatements.
Mr.Buckenmeyer went on to discuss Tax Increment Financing or(TIF),stating that TIF is a public
financing method that can be used to support infrastructure, community assets, and development
projects by capturing the growth in property taxes generate by increased property value. He also
stated that TIF utilization is evaluated and approved by the South Bend Redevelopment
Commission, two (2) Council appointed members and the Department of Community Investment
is staff to the Redevelopment Commission as well.
Mr. Buckenmeyer went on to further discuss other areas that the Community Investment
Department is responsible for such as Workforce Development, Industrial Revolving Loan Funds,
Facade Improvement Matching Grants, Site Selection and City Owned Land and Buildings, and
Tax Abatements.
Committee Chair Jake Teshka thanks Mr. Buckenmeyer for his very detailed presentation to the
Committee and he opened the meeting to any of the Committee or Councilmembers for any
questions or comments.
Committeemember Thomas Kurzhal asked a general question regarding Tax Abatements and any
possible penalties that a company might incur for not doing a tiered tax abatement and the project
does not get completed.
Councilmember Karen L. White made a comment giving examples of a couple of former South
Bend businesses that are now paying penalty costs for a tax abatement that they received,but those
companies have left the City of South Bend.
Respectfully Submitted
44'(icald era&
Jake Teshka, Committee Chair
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TfD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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