"Budget Enthusiast"
(A name given to me by the City Controller since I regularly attend the Council Meetings and 14 Budget Hearings)

Debt Overview

 As the saying goes, "Follow the money". Where DID your tax dollars get spent? Who got the lion's share and who got the crumbs? Are we all getting the best value that reflect our priorities? That's what I wanted to know when I started looking into the Budgets.

It was a learning curve finding out where to look up background information, learning terms like "Capitalized Interest" and "Debt Service". The DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) page on the State of Indiana website has been very useful.  Click Here

Would YOU like to know? See the information for yourself and not rely on short media sound bites? As a corporate trainer I enjoy assisting people, so I hope this information helps you.

​YOU deserve to know how YOUR tax dollars are being spent! Find out the EXACT details of the over $262 million* in debt we now have in South Bend, the over $100 million in debt the South Bend Schools have racked up and what businesses got the over $100 million in Tax Abatements while your taxes continue to increase.
* The amounts will change as some debt is paid and new debt is added.

It's YOUR MONEY, learn where it went!   Debt Reports 
 * The amounts will change as some debt is paid and new debt is added. This screenshot was taken on 2/3/2019. If we did more "pay as you go" projects there would be more money for projects and less spent on interest. Over $27M is being spent on interest. What would you do with that $27M?
Want to learn how to look at the parts of a bond? Here's breakdown of the "Smart Streets Bond" where it shows Capitalized Interest. No payments were made from April 2015 to August 2017 so those payments reduced the amount of money available for the project by $1,429,996.  Source of data is the State of Indiana Gateway.

2019 Adopted Budget

If you want to know where a lot of the money will be spent in 2019, this is the document to look through.
 NOTE: This is a VERY LARGE DOWNLOAD 19.3MB

Money Coming in 2017

The 2018 Report isn't posted to the State of Indiana Gateway yet (2/6/19)

Money Spent in 2017

The 2018 Report isn't posted to the State of Indiana Gateway yet (2/6/19)

Cash Reserves

For a quick snapshot of what is happening when there is debt and they deplete cash by over $121 Million to cover the shortfalls, click on the button below.
​It is my goal as an Advocate to involve YOU in the process. 

If these are your priorities, I need your VOTE and Donations!

My campaign is a grassroots one.  Donations are appreciated and helpful!
NOTE: My donation app is by ActBlue. Your receipts will come from them.