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REGULAR MEETING August 28, 2017
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott gave a disclaimer regarding Bills No. 17-44 and 17-46, stating that his
<br /> business purchases materials from Chase Plastic. Councilmember Scott stated, However, per
<br /> legal counsel, there's no advantage to me and myself in that purchase, so therefore I can vote on
<br /> these.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston, Chair of the Community Investment Committee,
<br /> reported that they met this afternoon and send all four (4)bills forward with a favorable
<br /> recommendation.
<br /> Dan Buckenmeyer, Director of Business Development, Department of Community Investment,
<br /> with offices on the 14th Floor of the County-City Building, South Bend, IN, served as the
<br /> presenter of this bill. Mr. Buckenmeyer stated, Tax abatements are just one (1)tool in aiding our
<br /> community growth and vibrancy. Like many of our tools, they involve a fair amount of
<br /> paperwork. We're here because of a clerical error in submitting paperwork. The reason I'm here
<br /> from DCI is because,really, I think the culpability is shared between our department—which had
<br /> some breakdowns in getting the paperwork and following up—and it's shared with the
<br /> companies, of course. Nonetheless, we're fixing the process on both ends. We're asking the
<br /> Council to approve a waiver in each of these cases to allow these great South Bend businesses to
<br /> move forward, if the abatement's granted—maintaining a focus on growing, investing, and
<br /> creating more jobs and success in the City of South Bend.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis asked, In terns of your understanding of how we're going to—
<br /> from our conversation we had about us correcting this issue and also making a presentation
<br /> before us to address the way you have corrected it--could you elaborate on what you're
<br /> understanding is about that?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer responded that DCI will be ready to give a comprehensive presentation to the
<br /> Council illustrating"that the gaps have been filled."
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, At what point of the process are the forms actually given to
<br /> the prospective companies? At the very initial tax abatement discussions?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer responded, There are forms at the beginning. There's a final letter of
<br /> agreement that they receive that outlines what forms they need to submit each year. Some of
<br /> those are submitted to—this is another sort of breakdown in the system is that they need to be
<br /> submitted to different places. Some to the Auditor, some to other offices in the City, and so on.
<br /> So, we're trying to really streamline that whole process so it can be centralized. A lot simpler, a
<br /> lot more customer friendly, frankly, for the companies that we work with.
<br /> Councilmember Broden asked, And are these one (1)page forms, two (2)page forms—the ones
<br /> that we have noncompliance on?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer responded, There are two (2)to three (3) page forms that go into great detail
<br /> about—in personal property cases—the investment, depreciation, and equipment. Similar
<br /> information on the real property side. So, they're very detailed.
<br /> Councilmember Broden asked, And,typically, when these are returned to the City, regardless of
<br /> their final destination, would generally the chief financial officer be responsible for that? What
<br /> do you see? What has been the process?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer asked, The chief financial officer in the company, or...?
<br /> Councilmember Broden responded, For the company; correct. Is that typically who submits
<br /> these, or is it all over the map?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer responded, I think it varies for each respective company.
<br /> Councilmember Davis stated, The question is not so much necessarily toward the presenter, but
<br /> our Clerk made a nice statement today that I thought added to this discussion, regarding her role
<br /> in this.
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott asked, Would you like Ms. Fowler to make that statement?
<br /> Councilmember Davis responded, Yes.
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