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Home My WebLink AboutBuild the Budget 2027 Report FILEDThank you to South Bend residents for their feedback, members of the Common Council for their continued support since 2021, and the Mayor’s Office for their guidance. Special thanks to the 25 City staff members who volunteered their time to help table, and to the 6 staff who reviewed and coded voicemail responses this year. Page 2 Table of Contents Letter from the Mayor 5 Executive Summary 6 Engagement Methods 8 Engagement Timeline 9 In-Person Engagement 11 Online Survey 16 Envelope Wall and Online Survey 21 311 Voicemails 24 Conclusion 28 Appendix 31 Page 3 Page 4 Dear Neighbor, For the sixth year running, the City team continued our “Build the Budget” engagement program. This outreach and data collection season has become a recognizable staple in the late summer and early fall. We’re pleased to see residents participate year after year. Just as before, the City Administration collected online survey responses, listened to and coded voicemails left on the 311 line, and facilitated budget feedback and trivia sessions at festivals and events. Once again, residents showed up.We saw over 1,600 total resident engagements this season. This is more than double the number of participants in the first year of the program in 2021. This report will share the major takeaways on resident priorities and ideas. We were pleased to see that our proposed 2027 budget is aligned with this year’s feedback. James Mueller Mayor, City of South Bend Letter from the Mayor Page 5 Executive Summary What is Build the Budget? Build the Budget is the City of South Bend’s yearly invitation for residents to help shape the City budget. Now in its sixth year, this initiative allows residents to allocate their own budget based on the priorities most meaningful to them. Residents have three main ways to have their voice heard – stopping by our table at community events, filling out an online survey, and leaving a voicemail by calling 311. Everything shared across the three channels is collected in this report and presented to the Common Council ahead of its October vote on the 2027 budget. Why is it Important? Responses by the Numbers Each year, the City of South Bend invests hundreds of millions of dollars into the services and infrastructure that shape daily life—from public safety and road repairs to vehicles and staff salaries. The budget isn’t just numbers on a page—it’s a blueprint for our city’s future. It determines what gets built, what gets fixed, and how our neighborhoods thrive. That’s why it’s critical for residents to be part of the conversation. Historically, public participation in the budget process has been low—not due to a lack of interest, but because traditional engagement methods often asked residents to come to us, rather than us meeting them where they are. This effort is designed to make the budget process more accessible and transparent, using creative outreach to invite residents into the fold. 128 Online Survey responses 131 Resident voicemails 1,418 Envelope Wall participants 1,677 total engagements This is 870 more engagements than the first year of Build the Budget in 2021! + + = Page 6 Executive Summary Top Categories 1,677 engagements on the 2027 budget represents about 1.6% of South Bend’s population. Out of 20 categories listed in the Envelope Wall and Online Survey, these five categories ranked highest across all three methods. EnvelopeWall OnlineSurvey 311Voicemail Road repair & resurfacing Average rank 2.0 Fixing potholes and resurfacing City streets. Handled by Public Works’ Streets division. 4th 8% of funds 1st 13% of funds 1st 33% of calls Affordable housing Average rank 4.3 New and existing housing that residents can afford. Led by Community Investment. 2nd 11% of funds 5th 6% of funds 6th 7% of calls Sidewalks & streetlights Average rank 4.7 Sidewalks, streetlights, curbs, and traffic calming in neighborhoods. Led by Public Works Engineering. 9th 5% of funds 3rd 8% of funds 2nd 18% of calls Homeless housing & support Average rank 4.7 Housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness. Led by Community Investment. 1st 14% of funds 4th 7% of funds 9th 5% of calls Police services Average rank 6.0 Patrol, investigations, and community policing. Led by the South Bend Police Department. 10th 4% of funds 2nd 8% of funds 6th 7% of calls Rank is out of 20 categories in each method. Percents are each category’s share of dollars funded before the trade-off round (Wall, Survey) or of 131 counted calls, which could name several categories (Voicemail). For a full category list with descriptions, see page 32; for the full comparison list, see page 33. Page 7 Engagement Methods Page 8 How We Reached Residents Besides tabling and engaging with residents at community events (see page 11), the primary way we reached residents was to redirect them to southbendin.gov/budget – the source of all information related to Build the Budget. For all things City budget, visit: southbendin.gov/budget Online survey link · Events calendar · Budget FAQs City Hall lobby wall A standing Envelope Wall, open all week for residents already at City Hall. Flyers Posted at community centers and libraries. Giveaway bookmarks Branded bookmarks handed out at City Hall and community events. Social media posts Posts on the City’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Facebook ad campaign Paid ads that sent residents straight to the website and survey. Street interviews Short clips of residents and City leaders, filmed at Meet the Mayor on August 7. In the Community Online Page 8 Engagement Timeline Build the Budget engagement ran for nine weeks, from July 27 to September 27, 2026. The timeline below follows this year’s program from launch to the Common Council’s budget vote. For the full list of in-person events, see page 11. July 27 Engagement Launches 311 voicemail line and the online survey go live. September 2 Hearings Start Each department presents its budget for the upcoming year. September 27 Engagement Ends Nine weeks of tabling, survey responses, and voicemails close. October 5 Report Released Provide Council with resident feedback and aid prioritization of future initiatives. October 12 Council Votes Council can approve proposed budget as is or decide to decrease proposed items. Residents line up at the Build the Budget table for trivia and the Envelope Wall at National Night Out - August 4th, 2026 Page 9 In Residents’ Words On this year’s top priorities ““I was hoping that there would be emphasis placed on the quality of our streets. Most importantly, our streets on the west side… I would hope that the residents there could enjoy roads that are more to the standard of the east side.” Voicemail #4 “Right around the time school starts, we have no [street] lights surrounding the school… I don’t feel that this is right considering kids are walking to school in the dark, especially in the fall and in the winter.” Voicemail #89 “The city needs to ensure the unhoused population gets the help they need and not just push them from one place to the next.” Survey #84 · District 4 “Our neighborhood is growing. A lot of young families and a lot of kids use that park. I think it would be perfect for a mini splash pad over there in the park.” Voicemail #3 Page 10 In-Person Engagement The first of three ways residents could get involved with Build the Budget 2027 is by visiting our table at any of the following community events. Dates are all from 2026. Across 8 days of tabling at community events led by City volunteers, 1,111 residents* provided feedback at the Envelope Wall (see page 12). Date Event Name # of Envelope Wall participants Tuesday, August 4th National Night Out 110 Friday, August 7th Meet the Mayor at First Friday 41 Saturday, August 8th August Linden Ave Farmers Market 50 Saturday, August 15th Art Beat 241 Friday, September 4th First Friday 65 Saturday, September 12th September Linden Ave Farmers Market 62 Saturday, September 26th Fusion Fest Day 1 283 Sunday, September 27th Fusion Fest Day 2 259 Besides participating in the Envelope Wall, residents also engaged in budget trivia (see page 13) and won fun prizes and giveaways! Build the Budget table setup at Meet the Mayor on August 7th, 2026. From left to right – The Envelope Wall posterboard, trivia wheel, promotional flyers and bookmarks, and prizes (including stress balls, buttons, stickers, snacks, tote bags, hats, and more) Page 11* not including the 307 residents at City Hall who participated in the Envelope Wall The Envelope Wall The Envelope Wall is one of the three methods of resident feedback for Build the Budget – and by far the most popular. Available across 8 days of tabling at community events and at City Hall, this 3-minute activity allowed participants to build their own budget to advocate for City services they care most about. First, residents were given 5 fake $20 bills. Then, they read the 20 categories labeled on different envelopes and placed the bills into the areas where they would personally fund. If they had an idea for another category, they labeled that bill or made a note for us to write down the new choice. See page 32 for the complete list of categories as they were listed on the Envelope Wall. For a breakdown of results by event, see page 34. New This Year: Trim Your Budget! After residents allocated their 5 $20 bills across the 20 categories on the Envelope Wall, they were then given a red token* to place in a category they already funded to trim $5 from.** This new addition to this activity got residents thinking about the hard choices that come with a budget deficit, and not having as many resources as one might plan for. *The first 3 community events gave residents 5 red tokens each worth $1 each, but this was simplified to 1 red token worth $5 starting at Art Beat. -$5 How it Works **Not every resident who participated in the Envelope Wall trimmed the budget, due to large crowds and time constraints. About 65% of participants trimmed their budget. Page 12 Budget Trivia Prizes and Giveaways How it Works Sample Questions Participants stop by our table and spin the trivia wheel for a budget category New prizes available this year! •Hats • Tote bags •Buttons • Stickers •Pens • Stress balls • Candy/snacks • Bookmarks Money Question: What is the City’s single biggest source of money? Charges for services, property taxes, or local income taxes? Answer: Charges for services. $125.7 mil compared to $109.3 mil in property taxes Parks Question: Roughly how many trees did Venues Parks and Arts Forestry Division plant in 2025? Answer: About 900 (914 across parks and public right-of-way) Streets Question: How much does the City budget for a new street sweeper? Answer: About $400,000 1 2 3 We ask a multiple-choice trivia question related to that category. Kids’ questions and challenge questions (no multiple choice) also available Get a question right? Win a prize! Page 13 The Envelope Wall Results Below are the top 7 categories residents prioritized most at the Envelope Wall across 8 days of tabling. For a full results breakdown, see page 35. $14,889 $11,981 $9,694 $7,903 $7,475 $6,086 $5,233 $331 $279 $206 $117 $305 $234 $167 Homeless housing & support Affordable housing Youth programs Violence prevention Road repair & resurfacing Parks & trails Small business support Top 7 Envelope Wall Categories — Total Funded vs. Trimmed Funded after trims Dollars trimmed Bars show dollars after the trade-off round; red shows dollars trimmed. About 65% of participants completed the trade-off round. $4,140 $3,900 $2,680 $2,120 $2,080 Homeless housing & support Road repair & resurfacing Affordable housing Sidewalks & streetlights Water & sewer service At Community Events At the City Hall Lobby Envelope Wall participants at the City Hall lobby were not asked to trim their budget, unlike at community events. 1 Homeless and affordable housing led the Envelope Wall They received the most dollars, 14% and 11% of the total. 2 Youth programs and violence prevention made the top five They ranked 3rd and 5th in total dollars. 3 Top categories at City Hall weighed heavily toward Public Works and service requests Roads, neighborhood infrastructure, and water/sewer service ranked in the top 5.Page 14 Key Takeaways In Residents’ Words From the online survey ““Expand social services and community outreach. People with strong support system rebound from hardship faster.” Survey #110 · District 4 “We need to stop building new and repair everything that is broken. Streets, sidewalks, streetlights, bridges, trails (especially riverwalk), and parks.” Survey #44 · District 3 “Safer roads — more police stops or cameras with tickets for running red lights, and better roads — so many potholes and dips all over the city.” Survey #83 · District 3 “City subsidized grocery stores to address the food deserts throughout the community.” Survey #45 · District 3 Page 15 The Online Survey In addition to doing resident engagement at community events through the Envelope Wall, we gathered budget feedback through a 5-minute online survey, found at southbendin.gov/budgetsurvey The survey functioned similarly to the Envelope Wall activity, where residents build and manage their own City budget. How it Works First, residents are asked to fund $100 across any of the 20 categories they prioritize the most Next, depending on how they funded the previous categories, the respondent then must trim exactly $5 from their allocated budget. Finally, the respondent is asked about whether they would expand, maintain, or reduce the City budget for operations that: • Ensure public safety for all • Build sustainable neighborhood infrastructure • Invest in economic growth and jobs • Provide access to opportunity This survey was advertised on flyers posted across the City, digitally through social media posts and Facebook ads, on bookmarks handed out at tabling events, and on southbendin.gov/budget 1 2 3 Survey Resident Engagement Page 16 Key Takeaways The Online Survey Results $1,576 $1,021 $957 $859 $800 $764 $709 $59 $27 $64 $39 $23 $53 $26 Road repair & resurfacing Police services Sidewalks & streetlights Homeless housing & support Affordable housing Water & sewer service Animal welfare Top 7 Online Survey Categories — Total Funded vs. Trimmed Funded after trims Dollars trimmed Below are the top 7 categories residents prioritized most on the online survey through the July 27-September 27 engagement period. For a full results breakdown, see page 36.Residents could only trim categories they had already funded, so a trim shows re- prioritizing within their own budget, not opposition to that category. Road repair was the clear top priority 90 of 128 respondents funded road repair, more than any other category. Residents protected police services and affordable housing In the trade-off round, these two categories were trimmed the least relative to what they received. More people funding a category doesn’t always mean more $ 69% of respondents in the survey funded sidewalks and streetlights, but had less funding than police services, funded by only 55% of residents ($1,020 vs $1,048). Similarly, animal welfare was carried significantly by a small overall percentage of people. Despite ranking 16th in percentage of residents who contributed (42%), it ranked 7th in dollars funded. Page 17 g s s t g e e Funded after trims Dollars trimmed 70% of residents funded 55% of residents funded 69% of residents funded 63% of residents funded 55% of residents funded 67% of residents funded 42% of residents funded 1 2 3 The Online Survey Results by Council District Top 3 Categories by Council District District 1 Canneth Lee RANK PRIORITY SURVEY $ 1 Road repair & resurfacing $448 2 Homeless housing & support $305 3 Police services $210 District 2 Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers RANK PRIORITY SURVEY $ 1 Road repair & resurfacing $109 2 Parks & trails $87 3 Affordable housing $84 District 3 Sharon McBride RANK PRIORITY SURVEY $ 1 Road repair & resurfacing $281 2 Sidewalks & streetlights $205 3 Parks & trails $195.50 District 4 Dr. Heidi Beidinger RANK PRIORITY SURVEY $ 1 Police services $416 2 Affordable housing $332 3 Road repair & resurfacing $326 District 5 Sherry Bolden-Simpson RANK PRIORITY SURVEY $ 1 Animal welfare $113.50 2 Local jobs & employers $101 3 Sidewalks & streetlights $100 District 6 Sheila Niezgodski RANK PRIORITY SURVEY $ 1 Road repair & resurfacing $183 2 Animal welfare $118 3 Police services $103 District Number Responses 2025 Responses 2026 Responses 2027 1 18 30 27 2 714 9 3 82018 4 15 37 40 5 61810 6 61210 Outside SB 513 8 N/A 54 6 Page 18 1 2 3 Key Takeaways The Online Survey Spending Adjustments 49%52%42%38%47%38%45%46% 4%9%13%16% Public safety Neighborhood infrastructure Economic growth & jobs Access to opportunity Citywide Expand Maintain Reduce By Council District Separate from building their own budget, respondents were asked whether the City should expand, maintain, or reduce spending in four areas. Because these questions didn’t involve trade-offs, most respondents chose expand or maintain in all four areas. Goal Citywide expand Most in favor of expanding Most in favor of reducing Public safety 49%D2, D6 D5, D3 Neighborhood infrastructure 52%D3, D2 D4, D5, D6 Economic growth & jobs 42%D1, D5, D6 D3, D4 Access to opportunity 38%D1, D2 D3, D5 Districts 2, 5 and 6 each had 9–10 respondents, and results may not fully represent the entire Council District. Full district charts are in the Appendix (page 31). Most support for expanding neighborhood infrastructure 52% of respondents want the City to spend more here, the highest of the four areas. Few want to reduce public safety Only 4% chose reduce, and more chose expand than last year (49%, up from 41%). Access to opportunity had the most “reduce” answers 16% chose reduce, fewer than last year (34%), when the question was worded differently. Page 19 The Online Survey Demographics Who Responded 68% 14% 7% 6% 5% 0% White Prefer not to say Hispanic or Latino Black or African American 2+ races Asian Race and Ethnicity Distribution 48% 41% 1% 10% Gender Distribution Female Male Non-binary Prefer not to say The survey asks residents for demographic information to better understand how well survey respondents represent our community. White residents are overrepresented (68% in survey compared to 52%), while Black residents (6% to 26%) and Hispanic residents (7% to 17%) are underrepresented in the survey1. 1: US Census South Bend Profile, 2020 Decennial Census Page 20 1 2 3 Key Takeaways Envelope Wall and Online Survey Takeaways and Comparison Although both the Envelope Wall and survey had the same activity of residents building their own budget, the popularity of each category varied across the two methods. Greatest Category Differences: Envelope Wall vs. Survey Ranked 1 (highest) to 20 (lowest). For a full category comparison, see page 33. Category Wall Survey Ranked higher Violence prevention 517Wall, by 12 Police services 10 2 Survey, by 8 Small business support 715Wall, by 8 Sidewalks & streetlights 93Survey, by 6 Housing code enforcement 15 9 Survey, by 6 Water & sewer service 11 6 Survey, by 5 Three priorities were consistently high for both the Envelope Wall and survey The survey leaned toward day-to-day services; the Envelope Wall leaned toward programs Police, sidewalks, code enforcement, and water and sewer ranked higher on the survey. Violence prevention, small business, and youth programs ranked higher at the Envelope Wall. Road repair, homeless housing, and affordable housing all placed in the top five at the Envelope Wall and on the survey. Page 21 Youth programs 38Wall, by 5 Parks & trails 610Wall, by 4 Fire & ambulance 15 11 Survey, by 4 The Envelope Wall had significantly more responses than the survey 1,418 residents filled out the Envelope Wall compared to only 128 on the survey. This is worth keeping in mind when analyzing these ranking differences. -4.0% -2.7% -1.5% -1.5% -1.4% +0.1% +0.3% +1.0% +1.2% +2.2% +2.4% Climate & environment Water & sewer service New residents Sidewalks & streetlights Road repair & resurfacing Job training & skills Homeless housing & support Financial empowerment Youth programs Police services Affordable housing Largest Online Survey Category Shifts 2026 to 2027 • percentage-point change Key Takeaway Envelope Wall and Online Survey Changes from Previous Years -3.7% -3.3% -2.8% -2.6% -2.1% +0.6% +0.8% +0.9% +2.0% +3.5% +9.6% New residents Climate & environment Internet & WiFi access Fire & ambulance Local jobs & employers Financial empowerment Parks & trails Violence prevention Water & sewer service Youth programs Homeless housing & support Largest Envelope Wall Category Shifts 2026 to 2027 • percentage-point change Online Survey Envelope Wall Affordable Housing and Police Services rose most on the survey, and Homeless Housing rose most at the Envelope Wall. Climate & Environment (top 5 overall category last year) and New Residents fell on both. Shift = change in each category's share of total dollars from 2026 to 2027. Several category names were reworded this year, so shifts are approximate. Housing Code Enforcement and Animal Welfare were new this year and are not shown.Page 22 In Residents’ Words From 311 voicemails ““I’d like to prioritize things like libraries, parks, food pantries, homeless shelters, basically assistance for those in need.” Voicemail #20 “There were multiple days where snowplows did the bigger streets but ignored smaller streets and neighborhoods, and that made it tough to get out of the neighborhood.” Voicemail #131 “I would greatly like to see more neighborhood cleanup of these vacant lots, the more beautification, possibly planting trees, flowers, or whatever in our neighborhoods.” Voicemail #48 “There’s a daycare across the street from me… and the car zoomed by like it’s a freeway, and I just thought there should be some of those speed bumps… before you get to the daycare so they could slow down.” Voicemail #68 Page 23 311 Voicemails How it Works Our team listened to every voicemail left by a resident. Listening and Coding Voicemails Besides the Envelope Wall and the online survey, residents could also call 311 and leave a voicemail about what they would like to see prioritized. Unlike the other two methods, voicemails had no set structure. Callers could mention any topic they wanted without being asked specific questions. 1 Next, we noted which of the 20 categories each caller addressed. A single voicemail can mention more than one category. If a caller raised a topic outside the 20 categories used on the Envelope Wall and online survey, we logged it as a new topic. 2 3 Finally, we counted the mentions for each category and kept detailed notes on what each caller brought up. Quotes from this year’s voicemails appear throughout this report. Page 24 311 Voicemails Results We received 131 voicemails this year that mentioned at least one budget feedback item. The first chart shows how often each of the 20 Envelope Wall and survey categories came up, as a share of counted voicemails. Many residents who call 311 are looking to address a specific service request (like filling a pothole or improvements for neighborhood infrastructure), which helps explain the results compared to the Wall and survey. More detail on the voicemail responses is in the Appendix (page 37). 32.8% 17.6% 10.7% 7.6% 7.6% 6.9% 6.9% 6.9% Road repair & resurfacing Sidewalks & streetlights Housing code enforcement Water & sewer service Parks & trails Police services Affordable housing Customer service Share of Voicemails Mentioning Each Category Callers also raised topics outside the 20 categories. These came up most often. 53% of counted voicemails raised a topic outside the 20 categories 9.2% 6.9% 5.3% 4.6% 4.6% 3.8% 3.8% Traffic calming & speed control Trash, recycling & yard waste Alley maintenance Neighborhood development Schools & education Disability & accessibility Snow & ice removal Share of Voicemails Mentioning Each Topic The 20 Categories Beyond the 20 Categories Page 25 311 Voicemails Takeaways Voicemails are the only channel where residents choose what to talk about. Four themes came up across many messages. Recurring Themes 1 Roads: Repair and Traffic Calming Road repair was the most-mentioned category (43 of 131 voicemails), and traffic calming was the top topic beyond the 20 categories (12). “All three roads have giant potholes on them, and it’s cost a lot of transmissions and axles.” — Voicemail #75 Sidewalks, Streetlights, and Alleys Sidewalks and streetlights came up in 23 voicemails and alley maintenance in 7. Callers often mentioned sidewalks lifted by tree roots, gaps in a block's sidewalk, or lights that go out. “I think the sidewalks need a little bit of attention.” — Voicemail #13 Neighborhoods: Code Enforcement, Parks, and Vacant Lots Code enforcement came up in 14 voicemails and parks in 10, often alongside illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, and overgrown properties. “The vacant lots need to be cleaned up most definitely, and the lawns should be maintained.” — Voicemail #88 City Services: Trash, Leaf Pickup, and Snow Removal Trash, recycling, and yard waste came up in 9 voicemails, snow removal in 5, and leaf pickup in 4. Callers asked for more frequent and earlier service, and help for seniors clearing plowed snow or taking bins out. “They could pick [the leaves] up sooner…then we get snow over top of it.” — Voicemail #99 2 3 4 Page 26 In Residents’ Words More from residents ““The youth have needed something/someone to help guide them for years. They need mentors in the community, an accessible way to learn life skills, and also places to safely have fun.” Survey #101 “Young people and new families are how we grow as a city and prevent the kind of rust-belt decay that impacts our neighbors.” Survey #65 · District 1 “A prettier and safer city often reduces violence and makes everyone feel safer. Expanded sidewalks and more trees curbs speeding and allows people to feel safer utilizing sidewalks.” Survey #55 · District 3 “Downtown has so many empty buildings that could be filled and make a more vibrant area.” Survey #3 · District 3 Page 27 Conclusion What residents told us Across three ways to take part, residents sent a clear and consistent message about the basics, while each method also surfaced something the others missed. Top Takeaways 1 Infrastructure ranked high across all three methods Road repair was the only category in the top five for the Envelope Wall, the survey, and voicemails. Sidewalks & streetlights and water & sewer service also ranked in the top six on both the survey and voicemails. Housing and homelessness led the Envelope Wall Homeless housing and affordable housing ranked 1st and 2nd at the Envelope Wall (24% of dollars) and 4th and 5th on the survey. Each also had the largest gain since 2026 on one of those two methods. Community programs stood out at the Envelope Wall Youth programs ranked 3rd and violence prevention 5th at the Envelope Wall (15% of dollars combined), compared to 8th and 17th on the survey. Youth programs gained share from 2026 on both methods. Each method brought out different priorities Police services and sidewalks & streetlights ranked 2nd and 3rd on the survey, but 10th and 9th at the Envelope Wall. In voicemails, 53% raised a topic outside the 20 categories, such as traffic calming or trash pickup. Thank you, South Bend. This report goes to the Common Council ahead of its October 12, 2026 vote on the 2027 budget. Every idea shared this season is part of that conversation. 2 3 4 Page 28 Looking Ahead Next Year Recommendations Clarify categories and build program awareness Category labels need to be short to fit on the Envelope Wall, and many residents asked what a category included. Consider a category guide at the table, or a QR code that links to full descriptions. A “How did you hear about Build the Budget?” survey question would show which outreach method works best. Engage more closely with Spanish-speaking residents Hispanic or Latino residents made up 7% of survey respondents, despite making up 17% of South Bend’s population (see page 20). A Spanish-language flyer, survey, and Envelope Wall labels may help improve engagement with the Hispanic and Latino community. Refine the budget trim activity Volunteers observed that many residents did not realize they could only trim from categories they had already funded. Consider simplifying this step, such as using a red $5 bill instead of red tokens, and tracking trims consistently at busy events like Fusion Fest. Or, instead of trimming from their allocated budget, consider an independent exercise where they choose categories they would pull back funding (regardless of what they funded). Show residents that their feedback matters Many residents were skeptical that their voice would affect the City budget. Sharing how this report is used, and what came from past years, could build trust and increase responses. 5 Consider focus groups for deeper conversations The Envelope Wall’s five-bill limit asks residents to prioritize, but with 20 categories, many could not capture everything they care about. The online survey allows more detail, and focus groups with neighborhood associations or at Council district meetings could add depth. Email the Department of Innovation & Technology at sbit@southbendin.gov with ideas on how to improve Build the Budget! 4 3 2 1 Page 29 Page 30 Spending Adjustments by Council District 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Public safety Neighborhoodinfrastructure Economicgrowth & jobs Access toopportunity District 1 — Canneth Lee 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Public safety Neighborhoodinfrastructure Economicgrowth & jobs Access toopportunity District 2 — Ophelia Gooden- Rodgers 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Public safety Neighborhoodinfrastructure Economicgrowth & jobs Access toopportunity District 3 — Sharon McBride 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Public safety Neighborhoodinfrastructure Economicgrowth & jobs Access toopportunity District 4 — Dr. Heidi Beidinger 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Public safety Neighborhoodinfrastructure Economicgrowth & jobs Access toopportunity District 5 — Sherry Bolden- Simpson 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Public safety Neighborhoodinfrastructure Economicgrowth & jobs Access toopportunity District 6 — Sheila Niezgodski Each district’s responses:■Expand ■Maintain ■Reduce Districts 2, 5 and 6 each had 9–10 respondents. District 1 had 27 and District 4 had 40. Page 31 Appendix The 20 Budget Categories The same 20 categories were used on the Envelope Wall, in the online survey, and to sort voicemails. The short name is how each appears in this report; the description is how it was worded in the survey. # Category Description 1 Road repair & resurfacing Repair and resurface roadways 2 Sidewalks & streetlights Improve sidewalks, streetlights, and neighborhood infrastructure 3 Police services Strengthen police services 4 Water & sewer service Maintain and improve water and wastewater utilities 5 Violence prevention Fund violence reduction outreach initiatives 6 Homeless housing & support Provide housing and support for people experiencing homelessness 7 Parks & trails Upgrade parks, trails, and green space 8 Affordable housing Invest in affordable housing 9 Fire & ambulance Strengthen fire and ambulance services 10 Youth programs Strengthen programs for kids and teens (after-school, summer jobs, mentoring) 11 Small business support Help small businesses open, grow, and hire 12 Climate & environment Take action on climate and the environment 13 Local jobs & employers Attract businesses that create good local jobs 14 Financial empowerment Offer income assistance to qualifying residents who need help paying bills 15 Job training & skills Fund job training and skills programs 16 Housing code enforcement Expand code enforcement for unsafe and neglected housing 17 Internet & WiFi access Expand free public wifi and affordable broadband programs 18 New residents Welcome new residents and immigrant communities 19 Animal welfare Invest in SBARC and animal welfare services 20 Customer service Improve the City's Customer Support Services (311) Envelope Wall participants and callers could also name an “Other” topic. The survey did not include an “Other” option. Page 32 Appendix How Each Category Ranked, by Channel Rank 1 is the highest. The average rank gives each channel an equal say, since each measures something different. Category Envelope Wall Online Survey Voicemail Average Road repair & resurfacing 4 1 1 2.0 Affordable housing 2 5 6 4.3 Sidewalks & streetlights 9 3 2 4.7 Homeless housing & support 1 4 9 4.7 Police services 10 2 6 6.0 Parks & trails 6 10 4 6.7 Youth programs 3 8 9 6.7 Water & sewer service 11 6 4 7.0 Housing code enforcement 15 9 3 9.0 Animal welfare 8 7 16 10.3 Violence prevention 5 17 12 11.3 Small business support 7 15 13 11.7 Local jobs & employers 12 12 13 12.3 Fire & ambulance 15 11 13 13.0 Job training & skills 13 13 16 14.0 Climate & environment 14 14 16 14.7 Customer service 19 19 6 14.7 Financial empowerment 18 16 11 15.0 Internet & WiFi access 17 18 16 17.0 New residents 20 20 16 18.7 Categories no caller mentioned share the voicemail rank of 16. Page 33 Appendix Envelope Wall Results by Event The three categories that received the most $20 bills at each event. Event Participants 1st 2nd 3rd National Night Out 110 Homeless housing & support Affordable housing Road repair & resurfacing Meet the Mayor 41 Affordable housing Homeless housing & support Youth programs August Linden Ave Farmers Market 50 Affordable housing Homeless housing & support Violence prevention Art Beat 241 Homeless housing & support Affordable housing Parks & trails First Friday 65 Homeless housing & support Animal welfare Youth programs September Linden Ave Farmers Market 62 Youth programs Homeless housing & support Affordable housing Fusion Fest Day 1 283 Homeless housing & support Affordable housing Youth programs Fusion Fest Day 2 259 Homeless housing & support Youth programs Affordable housing City Hall lobby 307 Homeless housing & support Road repair & resurfacing Affordable housing Ties are listed in category order. Page 34 Appendix Envelope Wall: All Categories Dollars funded and trimmed across 8 days of tabling and the City Hall lobby, ranked by how often residents funded each category. Rank Category Funded Trimmed Share 1 Homeless housing & support $19,360 $331 14% 2 Affordable housing $14,940 $279 11% 3 Youth programs $11,960 $206 8% 4 Road repair & resurfacing $11,680 $305 8% 5 Violence prevention $9,620 $117 7% 6 Parks & trails $6,960 $234 5% 7 Small business support $6,880 $167 5% 8 Animal welfare $6,680 $226 5% 9 Sidewalks & streetlights $6,640 $189 5% 10 Police services $6,160 $253 4% 11 Water & sewer service $6,140 $133 4% 12 Local jobs & employers $6,020 $126 4% 13 Job training & skills $5,740 $140 4% 14 Climate & environment $5,620 $114 4% 15 Fire & ambulance $4,220 $56 3% 15 Housing code enforcement $4,220 $177 3% 17 Internet & WiFi access $2,780 $257 2% 18 Financial empowerment $2,100 $103 1% 19 Customer service $1,740 $58 1% 20 New residents $1,680 $105 1% — Other (write-in) $420 $15 0% Total $141,560 $3,591 100% Share is of all dollars funded, before the trade-off round. The City Hall lobby wall had no trade-off round, so trimmed dollars are from community events only. Page 35 Appendix Online Survey: All Categories Each resident split $100 across the 20 categories, then trimmed $5 from categories they had funded. Rank Category Funded Trimmed Residents funding 1 Road repair & resurfacing $1,634 $59 70% 2 Police services $1,048 $27 55% 3 Sidewalks & streetlights $1,020 $64 69% 4 Homeless housing & support $898 $39 63% 5 Affordable housing $822 $23 55% 6 Water & sewer service $817 $53 67% 7 Animal welfare $735 $26 42% 8 Youth programs $715 $36 52% 9 Housing code enforcement $669 $38 62% 10 Parks & trails $653 $38 53% 11 Fire & ambulance $533 $32 52% 12 Local jobs & employers $508 $42 47% 13 Job training & skills $475 $17 46% 14 Climate & environment $465 $25 41% 15 Small business support $464 $23 49% 16 Financial empowerment $428 $16 48% 17 Violence prevention $427 $32 45% 18 Internet & WiFi access $218 $25 34% 19 Customer service $181 $18 37% 20 New residents $94 $22 23% Total $12,800 $655 “Residents funding” is the share of respondents who gave the category any money. Page 36 Appendix Figures rounded to the nearest dollar. 311 Voicemails: All Topics How many voicemails mentioned each topic. One message could mention several. The 20 categories Calls % Road repair & resurfacing 43 33% Sidewalks & streetlights 23 18% Housing code enforcement 14 11% Water & sewer service 10 8% Parks & trails 10 8% Police services 9 7% Affordable housing 9 7% Customer service 9 7% Homeless housing & support 6 5% Youth programs 6 5% Financial empowerment 5 4% Violence prevention 3 2% Fire & ambulance 1 1% Small business support 1 1% Local jobs & employers 1 1% Climate & environment 0 0% Job training & skills 0 0% Internet & WiFi access 0 0% New residents 0 0% Animal welfare 0 0% Outside the 20 categories Calls Traffic calming & speed control 12 Trash, recycling & yard waste 9 Alley maintenance 7 Neighborhood development 6 Schools & education 6 Disability & accessibility 5 Snow & ice removal 5 Leaf collection 4 Senior services 4 Street cleaning 4 Abandoned & unlicensed vehicles 3 Food assistance 3 Litter & illegal dumping 3 Public safety (general) 3 Public transit & bus stops 3 Street design 3 Vacant & abandoned buildings 3 Bike infrastructure 2 Grocery store access 2 Libraries 2 Property taxes 2 State policy 2 Utility costs (gas & electric) 2 City beautification 1 Civic education 1 Community centers 1 Community gardens 1 Geographic equity 1 Low-income yard cleanup help 1 Mental health services 1 Organic waste collection 1 Postal service 1 Public engagement 1 Sidewalk cost-share affordability 1 Sidewalk repair enforcement 1 Transportation access 1 Page 37 Appendix