On March 17, the St. Joseph County Council passed bill 90-08, a tax abatement ordinance that is supported by the Community Forum for Economic Development. Many of you actively supported the bill, attended the Council meeting, and testified at the public hearing. The Council, by passing bill 90-08, significantly improved the tax abatement process in the County. The bill supports companies that are bringing real benefits to our community, is fair to taxpayers by making sure that our tax dollars are used responsibly, and provides transparency to the public.
County Council members worked long and hard to listen to and accommodate all interested parties. Councilman Mark Catanzarite organized a series of meetings about bill 90-08. He drew up ten amendments to bill 90-08 that substantially addressed all concerns expressed at the meetings. Unfortunately, the South Bend Tribune Editorial Board opposed bill 90-08 as amended, and then wrote another editorial on Thursday, March 19th, following the vote. They said, without any attempt at documentation, that companies will now bypass St. Joseph County because of the passage of bill 90-08.
They also said that the goals of bill 90-08 are "achievable through negotiation with responsible, abatement-seeking companies," thus apparently endorsing a back-door process out of sight of the public. They criticized the Council members who voted for the ordinance, saying that "they acted to the people's long-term detriment." And, by implication, they criticized all of us who supported the bill.
The Tribune Editorial Board indirectly raised the issue of future Council elections, noting that "elections have consequences." Members of the Council who voted for bill 90-08 took a courageous step. When our elected officials act in the interests of the community, as the County Council did March 17th, they deserve our support. We encourage anyone who has a reaction to the Tribune editorial to let the Tribune know, with letters to the editor or op-eds.
The County Commissioners could veto bill 90-08 at their 10 am meeting on March 24. If so, the County Council will consider overriding the veto on Tuesday, April 14, at 7 PM. Although there will not be a public hearing on bill 90-08 at that meeting, we should continue to demonstrate our support by attending the Council meeting on the 14th.
The Community Forum will continue the fight for responsible tax abatements, and indeed will seek to raise the issue at other governmental units in the County. If you would like to be involved in this continuing process, please contact Marty Wolfson at mwolfson@nd.edu.
INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS ON BILL 90-08
Council member Mark Catanzarite's Amendments to bill 90-08: Download Bill 90-08 Amendments
Summary of Bill 90-08: Download Summary Bill 90-08
The entire bill: Download bill_no. 90-08.pdf
Kimber Sorenson-Brugh's excellent oped in the South Bend Tribune on March 7, 2009.
Download Kimber Sorenson-Brugh Oped on Tax Abatement
Troy Warner's excellent oped in the South Bend Tribune on November 7, 2008.
Download troy_warner_oped_on_tax_abatement.htm
Memo on calculating poverty and self-sufficiency wages
Download Calculating Poverty and Self-Sufficiency Wages St Joseph County Dec 2008
Informational flyer about the ordinance: Download Responsible tax abatement flyer Mar 2009
Contact information for County Council members.
Download How to Contact Your County Council Representative
Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatements
The organizational members of the Coalition include the following: Community Forum for Economic Development, AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area, Michiana Group of the Sierra Club, Michiana Social Forum, Northeast Neighborhood Council, South Bend NAACP, St. Joseph Valley Project, and St. Joseph Valley Building and Construction Trades Council.
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