2011 CAFR Executive Summary - Laserfiche WebLink

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Management Discussion & Analysis The Management of the City of South Bend, Indiana ("City") provides herewith, this Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") of the financial activities and condition of the City of South Bend, Indiana for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Readers of the information contained within this Management Discussion & Analysis, and any opinion derived therein, should be considered as a part of the greater whole of the financial statements, notes to the financial statements, supplemental information and letter of transmittal, as contained within this Comprehensive Annual Financial Report("CAFR"). The City of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, and is the fourth largest city in the State of Indiana. St. Joseph County is located within the heartland of the manufacturing and metropolitan regions of the Upper Midwest. The City of South Bend is located in the north central region of the State of Indiana, five (5) miles south of the Indiana / Michigan State boundary line. The City is approximately ninety (90) miles east of the city of Chicago and one hundred forty (140) miles north of the city of Indianapolis. The year 2010 U.S. Bureau of the Census population for the City of South Bend was reported as 101,168, whereas the year 2010 Census population for St. Joseph County was reported as 266,931. Accordingly, South Bend is classified as a"City of Second Class"under State of Indiana statutes, defined as cities with a population between 35,000 and 250,000 residents. South Bend and St. Joseph County is a vibrant and diverse area with a strong local economy based on a mix of agricultural, manufacturing and service, higher education and other commercial and tourism based industries. The diverse economic mix creates varied employment opportunities for residents while providing insulation via diversification from economic downturns. The City of South Bend provides a full range of general governmental services to citizens. Services include general government, public safety, street construction and maintenance, infrastructure construction and maintenance, parks & recreation services, arts & culture, and sanitation services. In addition, the City provides Water Utility and Wastewater Utility services to commercial and residential properties within the city. City operations also include the Century Center Convention venue, College Football Hall of Fame, Studebaker Museum, South Bend Redevelopment Authority and Public Parking Garages within the city footprint. The City of South Bend governmental structure includes elected officials as follows with defined management and legislative authority in compliance with Indiana Statute. Mayor Chief Executive Officer 4 year term Common Council 9 member legislative body 4 year term 6 from defined districts within the City 3 at large members City Clerk Secretary of the Common Council 4 year term All elected official current terms of office expire on December 31, 2015. The City of South Bend was incorporated in 1865, compliant to Indiana Statute, and remains as such through the period covered by this Management Discussion &Analysis report. 16