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REGULAR MEETINGDECEMBER 8, 2008
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<br />schools. He advised that Plymouth did it, why can’t South Bend? He noted that while on
<br />the subject, the City needs to get out from underneath the College Football Hall of Fame,
<br />that is a half-million bucks year going down the drain and the City is getting no benefit
<br />from. Not to mention the cost of servicing the bond issue. He stated that unemployed,
<br />underemployed, taxpayers have reached their limits. He stated that they cannot even
<br />afford to maintain their own homes properly, obtain good health care, drive shining new
<br />cars, eat as good as they did in the 70’s or even properly maintain the old cars. He stated
<br />that they have to do all these things by themselves and advised that it is not always the
<br />best quality of work, because they cannot afford to pay somebody else to do it. He stated
<br />that this is going to affect him because the County is right on the same band wagon on
<br />raising these taxes. He stated that if it means reducing the staff at City Hall or reducing
<br />salaries and benefits, it has to be done. He stated that the Council cannot reduce police or
<br />fire protection as has been threatened. He noted that the City of South Bend is the most
<br />unsafe place that he has seen in his entire life. He would love to be able to drive
<br />anywhere in this town at any time of day without having to worry about bullets flying his
<br />way. He stated that the Circuit Breaker was passed with one thing in mind and that was
<br />to stop municipalities, counties and other agencies within the State from further taxing
<br />their people when they get into a budget shortfall. As has been done in the past with
<br />property taxes and now they want to do it with income taxes. He stated that it will take a
<br />lot courage, knowledge and experience to do the right thing for the taxpayers. The
<br />reaching into the pockets of the unemployed, underemployed and elderly taxpayers of
<br />this city to float a bloated budgeted is not the right thing to do, fiscal restraint is.
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<br />Paul Kusbach, 54497 Longwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana, spoke regarding the
<br />reinstatement of the Dollar House Program. He stated that he has been a life-long
<br />resident of this town. He stated that he is not here to talk about problems only solutions.
<br />20 yrs. 6mos., almost to the date, he was awarded a home in the City of South Bend for
<br />$1. He stated that he would like to see this program come back. He would like to see
<br />and give the Council a solution to all the blighted areas of the city. It tore his heart out as
<br />he drove through the city and saw numbers sprayed painted on homes waiting to be torn
<br />down. He stated that he took a boarded up home on the west side of South Bend, that
<br />was slated for demolition and rehab that home. He lived in that home for 6 years, paid
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<br />the taxes and sold it. Mr. Kusbach stated that the home is on it’s 3 ownership now. The
<br />City has been received as well as the County, and State the tax revenue, not counting into
<br />fact all the general contractors, electrical, plumbing, heating & air condition. Mr.
<br />Kusbach stated that the house made him, not only by rehab this home, but rehabbing over
<br />two dozens homes in this town. He stated that he owns those homes free and clear.
<br />Every single one of the homes that he owns is a repossessed home, 10 of those homes
<br />were slated for demolition. Every single one of those homes except for one has a vacant
<br />lot sitting next to it, maybe two or three vacant lots. 5 to 10 years ago they were not
<br />vacant lots, they were viable homes. He urged the Council to take the challenge like the
<br />people he has been talking to in Cleveland, Ohio, to take a small portion of money
<br />$150,000, to buy up homes and give them away, to viable people like him, so that they
<br />can put back into the community. He stated that this community needs to be rebuilt and
<br />one way to get rid of these blighted homes is to give them away. Mr. Kusbach filed a
<br />three page document with the City Clerk John Voorde. A copy of this document is on
<br />file in the Office of the City Clerk.
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<br />Michael Garber, 610 Dundee, South Bend, Indiana, spoke regarding no new taxes. Mr.
<br />Garber stated that he is a life-long resident of South Bend who is tired of paying higher
<br />taxes. He stated that the citizens of South Bend are dealing with higher costs of living
<br />and they cannot afford to have another taxes put upon them.
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<br />Dale Engles, 903 Finch Drive, South Bend, Indiana, spoke regarding no new taxes. He
<br />urged the Council to vote against any new tax. He stated that he has heard that property
<br />taxes are going to decrease, but he has yet to receive a bill to actually see any reduction.
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