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CITY OF SOUTH BEND j OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Dr. Mueller replied, We don't have a hired lobbyist. We talk to AIM and do personal outreach. So <br /> I raised this with some of our local Senate delegations who were already working on a tax package. <br /> My understanding, in our area Senator Mishler is a leader on these and we've talked to him for <br /> sure about these issues. <br /> Councilmember Broden followed up, And then, I think I came in on this, is there a schematic on <br /> our commitments, the debt service, the projects associated with those across the timeline that <br /> includes TIF and tax abatement?Then if there are some assumptions or underlying projections,do <br /> you have a tool that you use to get at that and to keep track of all that? Can that be shared in a way <br /> with Council and the public so that it's transparent and informative? <br /> Dr. Mueller replied, Obviously we track tax abatements with the annual tax abatement reports <br /> every year. We do track our obligations. I don't think we have it all in one (1) place where there <br /> is also property tax receipts from the parcels. We can look at that but we would have to figure out <br /> how to make that less cumbersome. <br /> Councilmember Broden followed up, I just think it would be helpful. But also, to piggyback on <br /> Sharon's comment,I have another question. I know over the time previous to when I sat here,there <br /> were improvements to the application of the petitioners and the scoring. That has been a huge <br /> improvement, I think. I think maybe the return on investment, that reporting and the valuations <br /> that happen, doing that internally,what are some of the changes or key lessons learned?.You don't <br /> have to answer that. <br /> Dr. Mueller replied, We look at the returns on every project when we are considering them. That <br /> is one(1) of the things I think that isn't appreciated is there are plenty of things that come and you <br /> never see it because we know it is under water or it wouldn't make sense. We don't bring them <br /> forth because they wouldn't get a favorable recommendation. Or, they ask for too much. We look <br /> at the number and the need. Those things aren't seen but it is important to say we do screen on the <br /> front end to look at the return and the value proposition for the City on every project, including <br /> the public ones like the Library for example.There was scrutiny there for sure. They asked for$10 <br /> million. We didn't give them that and we had to figure out what the right value proposition was <br /> for us. I think Council was pushing for more information on what the return was. Some of the <br /> things were hard for them to quantify. They had gone to Umbaugh to get foot traffic metrics and I <br /> had suggested something we could look at. Nevertheless, we couldn't quite quantify those but we <br /> got some input output models on the construction and some of the other things. Some of this is <br /> hard to do. Any analysis, there is a balance between moving things forward and looking back and <br /> analyzing. The question is the balance because we have one (1) or maybe two (2) analysts on our <br /> stuff. And everyone else is trying to do stuff and move projects through and keep things on time. <br /> We have thought about when we go through the budget process adding another analyst. This year <br /> there were a lot of budgetary needs. There is a potential homeless coordination position, there is <br /> the Engagement Specialist, and we have more staffing potential than we ask for or that we could <br /> manage. We value analysts. I have a PhD so I certainly value analysis, but we are judged more on <br /> delivery. It is good to have it and we try to find ways within the bandwidth we do have to get better <br /> information out there, it is just hard for us to justify to put too much on the analysis side. <br /> Councilmember Broden interjected, But a percentage of your time has to be dedicated to that. It <br /> has to be right and informative because you don't want to keep doing the same thing and hoping <br /> to get better results,right? <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION ' EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574 235 9221 f 574.235.9173 HD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 25 <br />