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

Circuit Breaker Information

This is a comprehensive study on the economic health of South Bend and some of the impacts the Circuit Breaker will have on our City in 2020.
This is the Official information about the Circuit Breaker from the State of Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
The rest of Indiana went onto the Circuit Breaker Program in 2008. The exceptions were Lake and St. Joseph Counties because they had too much debt. Both counties were given an extension to 2020 to allow time to REDUCE THE DEBT, not increase it. Here we are on the doorstep of the Circuit Breaker and the new Mayor and Council have a huge task ahead of them. To those running, I hope you are prepared to do a lot of homework and make some hard choices if you take office in 2020. Hopefully you have great math skills. 

This is a major reason I have been suggesting there be a Countywide Debt Forum that includes all the cities and school corporations, along with the County officials to see the total scope and make wiser choices. All this time financial choices have been made independently without regard to the impact on the St. Joseph County taxes and expenses as a whole.

As a resident / business owner you need to be asking the hard questions to those in office and those taking office.  The solutions they are looking at are raising fees, water rates, school levies and taking more money out of YOUR WALLET with COIT increases. COIT is the County Option Income Tax that comes out of your paycheck. We can't borrow our way out of this so it's make necessary cuts or increase the money you pay. Make your thoughts known to your elected officials and candidates. Make sure they understand the finances and have a plan. It's going to take a smart number crunching team to make this work.
​#CircuitBreaker #2020CircuitBreaker #COIT
 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.