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<br />South Bend Coanmon Council <br />NEWS REIIEASE September 9, 2410, 5 p.m. <br />Salary Freeze at 2007 Levels Proposed for South Bend City Council <br />Contact: Derek D. Dieter, Council President 532-2200 or~ 235-5982 <br />Council President Derek D. Dieter has fated with the Office of the City Clerk a substitute ordinance <br />calling for City Council wages to be frozen at 2007 levels. Dieter noted that the City Council is the <br />only part of City government to freeze its wages for such an extended period of time. <br />President Dieter cited the 12.3% unemployment rate for July, increasing from an 11.9% unemployment <br />for June in the South Bend area, as one of the reasons for this recommendations to his colleagues an <br />the City Council. He noted that at least the foreclosure rates in the South Bend-Mishawaka area <br />reported for the first half of 2010 are slowly improving. <br />Although the City Council has one of the smallest budgets in the entire City of South Bend civil city <br />budget, he believes that every dollar captured by this proposed freeze will help, Building permits are <br />dawn, which apparently forced the Consolidated Building Department to give notice to at least three <br />(3) of its full-time employees that they would be laid off. <br />"Elected public officials must lead by example. When the original ordinance was filed, it was hoped <br />that there would be better economic news at the local, state and national levels to support a salary <br />increase. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and a freeze is the right thing to do far next year," Dieter <br />stated. He noted that the City Council has held a series of Council Summits which focused an <br />"priority based budgeting''. The Council is engaged and reviewing all proposed budgets. Several <br />deparkments may be called back for further public hearings before the Personnel and Finance <br />Committee makes its final recommendations on the proposed 2011 city budget. <br />Dieter noted that the Council has been working with the Fire and Police Administrations to explore the <br />possibility of charging for specialized services. "Modest fees, which are reasonable for special services <br />such as fire inspections, would take some of the burden off of the taxpayers. It would help shift some <br />an the burden to tl~e users of such services. All ideas are on the table. Times are tough for everyone. <br />We must continue to tighten our belts and brainstarn ideas which will help South Bend and our <br />residents". Dieter encouraged residents to contact their Council Members and share their ideas. <br />-30- <br />