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REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2009
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<br />and local property taxes because they support the schools, libraries, parks, public safety,
<br />economic development, quality of life initiatives that touch lives everyday.
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<br />A Public Hearing was held on these Resolutions at this time.
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<br />The following individuals spoke in favor:
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<br />Mr. Dale Gipson, 220 Wakewa, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he would hate to see the
<br />day that he would have to apologize to his family, friends and visitors that come to South
<br />Bend because the City had to close the zoo, parks and other municipal facilities. He
<br />urged the Council to vote in favor of these bills.
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<br />Mr. Keith Branham, 1918 E. Colfax Avenue and works at 220, Dean John Blvd., South
<br />Bend, Indiana, Vice-Chancellor Ivy Tech Community College. He stated that he is
<br />speaking on behalf of the college this evening. He advised that the College endorses the
<br />Mayor’s recommendation for the local option income tax. He stated that the college
<br />believes that it will encourage economic development; enhance the prosperity of the
<br />community; maintain infrastructure and necessary services to sustain a safe, healthy,
<br />attractive community and provide the recreational, education and cultural opportunities
<br />that enrich lives. On behalf of the college and himself, he urged the Council’s favorable
<br />consideration.
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<br />Mr. Roger Birdsell, 341 W. Northshore, South Bend, Indiana, commended the Council
<br />and the Mayor for a very thorough study of this issue. He stated that the legislature tried
<br />to do a good thing with the property tax caps, however, they just passed the buck to the
<br />local elected officials to make the very tough decisions of how to manage and cope with
<br />the extremely large deficit and loss of funds from the property tax caps. He stated that
<br />this is a hard decision that has to be made but supports the local option income tax.
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<br />Marguerite Taylor, 714 E. Corby Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, urged the Council to pass
<br />the local option income tax. She stated that it would be a tragedy to close the water
<br />parks; zoo and other municipal facilities.
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<br />Mr. Marty Wolfson, 809 Park Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he speaking on
<br />behalf of himself and not an organization. He stated that Mayor Luecke has just giving
<br />testimony on the State of the City. He stated that the State Legislature has given local
<br />government no other option to make up the deficit from the loss in property taxes from
<br />HEA 1001 other than enacted and raising the local option income tax. He stated that
<br />there will be speakers tonight who say now is not the time in this struggling economy.
<br />He stated that the economy is in a very serious recession and people are losing both their
<br />homes and jobs. He stated that he believes those speakers are just as right as well. He
<br />stated what to do? Mr. Wolfson gave four reasons for siding with raising local option
<br />income taxes. First, cutting back on police & fire protection, libraries, parks and other
<br />needed services dramatically undermines the quality of life and makes us all poorer.
<br />Second, making these cuts results in lost jobs, lost wages, and lost benefits that can be
<br />devastating to the families affected. Third, the local option income tax is the only source
<br />of revenue available to the City to prevent these cuts. Fourth, it remains the possibility
<br />and only a possibility that other sources of revenue like an increase in the hotel-motel tax
<br />or an event ticket tax might be allowed by the State Legislature in the future and in that
<br />case they might be able to roll back the income tax increases. He stated that this is a very
<br />difficult decision that needs to be made and respects both sides of the issue. He urged the
<br />Council’s favorable consideration of these bills.
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<br />Ms. Becky Williams, 724 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is a recent
<br />graduate of John Adams High School and has lived in South Bend her entire life. She
<br />stated that she was a member of the Youth Advisory Council under the sponsorship of
<br />Councilmember Karen White. She stated that during her time on the Youth Council she
<br />learned to become involved in local government. Since then HEA 1001 has been enacted
<br />by the State Legislature, and will reduce funding for the SBCSC in the amount of $5
<br />million dollars by 2011. She stated that this is a tremendous loss of revenue for the South
<br />Bend Community School Corporation and will impact the future education of the youth
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