At a special meeting on Tuesday, March 17th, the St. Joseph County Council will hold a public hearing and final vote on bill 90-08, which establishes responsible criteria for the granting of tax abatements in the County.
We encourage all members and friends of the Community Forum for Economic Development to attend the meeting on March 17th and, if possible, speak at the public hearing in support of bill 90-08. The Council meeting will be at 7 PM in the Council chambers on the fourth floor of the County-City building, at Lafayette and Jefferson Streets in downtown South Bend.
This bill was originally scheduled for final consideration in October, but has been postponed four times. There now has been sufficient time for all concerned parties to be heard. In fact, Council member Mark Catanzarite, the sponsor of the bill, has drawn up amendments to the bill to take these concerns into account. There is now no reason to further delay a final vote on the bill. And there is every reason for the Council to pass this bill. It supports taxpayers who want to make sure that their tax dollars are used responsibly. It encourages businesses that treat their workers and our community well. And it helps bring real benefits to St. Joseph County.
The regular monthly meeting of the Community Forum is usually on the third Tuesday of the month, which in March falls on the 17th. However, this month we will instead be getting together at the Council meeting to support bill 90-08. We hope you can attend and bring your friends. See you on the 17th!
