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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK about that. Thank you for that. I do feel a sense of urgency on this and there is one (1) thing that is for certain and that is that the issue itself affects everyone equally. How do we pay for that moving forward? I think that is what we are going to continue talking about. We will continue the conversation. Councilmember Scott stated, I know people affected by the last flood and twenty four dollars($24) was definitely something to them. But what has happened is I have seen them lose everything they had and not have the insurance to replace it nor the ability to move. We could see this happen again and again. I think figuring out the income part is crucial. When you lose everything, that is a real concern. Councilmember Broden stated, I appreciate that follow up but it is the non-extraordinary events that are impacting every street in the City of South Bend on this. That will become the new norm and it will only get worse. I guess I want to emphasize that this solution is for what has happened in the last five (5) to ten(10) years. Committee Chair Teshka then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Sue Kesim,4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I want to address the demographics of our City. Not only the poverty and ALICE, we have a lot of seniors that are having a hard time even meeting their prescriptions. The difference between not paying a gas or electric bill is it doesn't get tacked onto their property tax. When you do these fees, it could get tacked onto their property tax and then we have more people that are going to lose their home. You need to be mindful that this fee could be a tipping point and cause people to lose their homes. We already have that problem. Eric, you had mentioned there are eighty(80)lane miles that are level four(4)or worse that didn't get addressed. I truly appreciate a hard time and I also, during budget,was made aware that you have a$9 million deficit. I was dismayed the Council didn't address that deficit and why it was there. I think there needs to be a pause. I don't think it needs to happen this year, it could go into January or February but there needs to be an audit. I think there are some other things coming out of Eric's budget. There is IT, $600,000 out of Water and $600,000 out of Sewers. There is police equipment. There is stuff coming out, I don't know, I would appreciate an audit of your Council. Not to say you did anything wrong because you didn't, but to see where the money is going and be tighter about making sure it goes to what it's supposed to go to. I think those are concerns to me when I look at those things. Let's right off the bat know those lane miles that need to get done as the budget process starts. Let's start having the Council make priorities. Storm Water is a priority. Fixing the roads is a priority. Making sure the poor neighborhoods that have sewage problems is a priority. Start the budget with priorities and then go with the wants and desires. You know, when I look at you giving a party room to the Zoo and I look at what we need for infrastructure, that priority doesn't match my values. Just saying. So, I want to say I hope that you'll pause, not react right away,do some investigation,crunch some numbers with Eric,make sure the money is going where it needs to and look at that $9 million deficit. I'm sure you need it. Where is it going to come out of? I don't think it should come off the backs of the residents and I think we need to be mindful that we are losing properties because those fees can be added on to the property taxes. Thank you. Committee Chair Teshka then gave the floor to Director Horvath for a Rebuttal. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I D574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 12