07-13-09 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2009 is causing lost jobs and taxes. Sam the owner of the grocery store down the street was murdered in a senseless robbery. He said that someone who spoke prior said that many see raising taxes as a great evil, but yet what kind of sacrifices are the citizens of South Bend willing to make. We need to make the sacrifice to make the community better. Mr. Tom Fujimura, 9163 W. 700 N, Culver, Indiana, stated that he is speaking as a representative of the South Bend Community School Corporation. He stated that the SBCSC supports Mayor Luecke’s proposed local option income tax increases. With millions of dollars cut from the budget will directly impact the SBCSC’s way of doing business. They are convinced that the cuts that are proposed will negatively affect the quality of life of the students, their parents and the school community and have an adverse effect on the SBCSC ability to recruit and hire good teachers, staff, other support service personnel. The many services offered by the City and County significantly supports as well as enhances the educational programs of the South Bend Schools. He stated that the Rum Village Nature Center helps teachers make science assignments come alive. He stated that children need activities during the summer when they are not in school. He stated that the City of South Bend Parks & Recreation Department provides so many wonderful activities all year long for students for either no cost or a very minimal cost. He stated that many students take part in the after school programs, those programs help students who otherwise would go to an empty home and spend their afternoons unsupervised. Mr. Richard Williams, 724 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, stated that the Council is going to hear shortly from members of the public who will be claiming economic hard time and all the waste and inefficiency in local government and how the City can cut it’s budget so that there is no need to raise the local option income taxes. He stated that the main reason for this discussion tonight to raise the local option income tax is because the State of Indiana decided to cut the $20 million dollars that the city used to get from property taxes. He stated that during hard times such as the economic hard times that the nation is going through now he would rather have a tax based on income as opposed to th property tax. He stated that St. Joseph County ranks 6 amongst the seven largest counties in the State for per capita taxes, only Lake County has lower per capita taxes. He stated that local option income tax is the only means that the State Legislature has given to local governments to make up the deficit left by no longer being able to rely on property taxes. He stated that he does not want to live in a community that does not have sufficient police and fire protection or adequate services. Ms. Catherine Pittman, 2628 Summit Ridge Drive, South Bend, Indiana, stated that no one wants to have their taxes raised. She stated that everyone knows that the services that they receive in their community are not free. She stated that it costs money to pick up the garbage, clear the streets of snow and debris, provide recreational programs, and make the parks beautiful. She stated that she is willing to pay more in income taxes since getting relief on her property taxes and because she does not want to see the city deteriorate. She believes that income taxes are a more fair tax than property taxes, they are based on what they earn and not what on the basis of what they own. This is easier on the elderly, people on fixed incomes, when people are unemployed or making less money as is happening with many of the citizens in the community they are taxed less. She reiterated what was mentioned about the local option income taxes staying in the community to help pay for police and fire protection and the local schools. She stated that she is happy to see her tax dollars making a difference in the community. So when she pays her taxes she knows that they are going into her local community and benefiting her neighbors and her neighborhood and is very willing to contribute to her community. She stated that everyone should take responsibility for contributing to the community and that’s what community is all about. She stated that she will support the Council as they support this increase in the local option income tax. Ms. Noreen Dean-Moran, 716 W. Colfax, South Bend, Indiana, urged the Council to pass the local option income tax. She stated that she has been a resident of South Bend for forty-five years; however, she was born and brought up in New York City. She likes cities and likes to live downtown. She stated that she like all the services that the City of South Bend offers and would dislike it very much when there is nothing available. She 23