Latest news with #RodRoberson
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elkhart breaks silence out on SB 1
ELKHART — Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson on Tuesday met with the community to address the possible impacts of Senate Enrolled Act 1 on the City of Elkhart. The city will also host a discussion with more detail surrounding the impacts of the bill on Elkhart and its residents. Roberson said his administration was working with municipal consultants, Baker Tilly, to understand the impact of Senate Enrolled Act 1 formerly known as Senate Bill 1 to Elkhart. 'Senate Enrolled Act 1 is the biggest disruption to local government revenue in the last 50 years,' he said candidly during the meeting held at Elkhart's City Hall Tuesday morning. 'Our philosophy and commitment to providing unparalleled service has not changed. We believe quality of place drives economic development and we will continue to invest where we can in services and projects that generate quality of life improvements for our residents.' Roberson said because the city has been a good steward of public funding and remains in strong financial standing, ASPIRE Elkhart projects and essential services to residents will continue. 'For example, our funding contribution to Fire Station 6 and the Hively Avenue Overpass will remain intact, and we are evaluating a way forward on the Public Safety Center,' he said. Rather, the change creates long-term challenges that Roberson said will affect every community across Indiana by cutting property taxes and overhauling local income tax. 'Because of this, Elkhart's future property tax revenues are now projected lower,' Roberson said. 'State estimates show up to $6 million lower in 2028. Even worse, the income tax we currently collect, about $34 million a year, will be eliminated in 2028, with the expectation that we recoup that locally by raising fees and utilizing new local tax options. This is not an insignificant challenge. We are talking about one-third of our entire budget. And it's not clear right now that local revenue options will be able to make up for the anticipated losses.' Roberson said the Indiana Governor Mike Braun and lawmakers have made it clar they expect cities to make up for the funding. Another law, House Enrolled Act 1461, Roberson notes, requires municipalities to create a local wheel tax in order to keep getting state funding for roads, even if the county already has a wheel tax. 'SEA 1 and our state legislators are also encouraging Indiana cities to charge a separate city income tax starting in 2028, on top of the county's income tax' he said. Roberson said his team is continuing to examine th changes and how other rising costs shift to residents. 'This huge drop in yearly revenue will make it much harder to pay for city services and projects,' he said. 'Elkhart is in good financial shape right now and will still move forward with top-priority projects thanks to our diligent savings strategy over the past several years. But we may have to delay or cancel less urgent projects. Unless the State Legislature fixes this, we'll eventually have to reduce our operating budget — which likely means cutting city services that support roads, parks and public safety. We're reviewing our budget carefully to make sure the money coming in can still support our core services. 'We want the public to know: this problem was caused by SEA 1, and it's hurting every city and town in Indiana,' Roberson added. 'Elkhart is working with lawmakers to try to fix it, but we've already had to delay projects and spend extra time and money just figuring out how to respond. We are working with state legislators to evaluate potential changes to the act and to hopefully mitigate the impact. We'll keep you updated and keep fighting for what Elkhart needs.' With that in mind, the Elkhart County's Finance Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Elkhart City Council Chambers, 229 S. Second St., Elkhart, to talk more about SEA 1 and its impact on the city. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City confronts loss of revenue from property tax relief effort
ELKHART — The city is projected to lose up to one-third of its budget thanks to a tax relief measure adopted by state lawmakers earlier this year, Mayor Rod Roberson said in a news conference on Tuesday. Senate Enrolled Act 1 was signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun this spring. It cuts property taxes and overhauls local income taxes. Because of this, the city's future property tax revenues are projected to be much lower. 'Senate Enrolled Act 1 is the biggest disruption to local government revenue in the last 50 years,' Roberson said. 'Our philosophy and commitment to providing unparalleled service has not changed. We believe quality of place drives economic development and we will continue to invest where we can in services and projects that generate quality of life improvements for our residents.' State estimates show the city's property tax revenues will be up to $6 million lower in 2028, when the measure takes full effect. And the income tax the city currently collects, about $34 million a year, will be eliminated in 2028. Roberson talked about the impact Senate Enrolled Act 1 would have on city services and projects. 'This huge drop in yearly revenue will make it much harder to pay for city services and projects,' Roberson said. 'Elkhart is in good financial shape right now and will still move forward with top-priority projects thanks to our diligent savings strategy over the past several years. But we may have to delay or cancel less-urgent projects.' The process for understanding which projects will be delayed or canceled is two-fold, Roberson said. The first part is getting a clearer read on what the 2027, 2028 and 2029 revenue picture is going to look like. The second part is ensuring that the city takes a look at the project itself to see what can be done. Each project is scheduled on a time frame of about 24 to 36 months, Roberson said. 'We were ready to roll with funding in place with a level of investment that still allowed us to have a very significant reserve,' Roberson said. 'But what's unfortunate is that obviously this digs deep into that space, and so now we have to relook at that schedule in order to ensure that our revenues are going to be able to cover what those projects will yield.' The other concern the city has is that the longer it waits on projects, the more costs will go up, he said, for supplies such as concrete, steel and asphalt. Roberson said Gov. Mike Braun and state lawmakers made it clear that they expect cities to make up the shortfall with local options. But it's not clear if local revenue options will be able to make up for the anticipated losses, he said. House Enrolled Act 1461 states the city must create a local wheel tax to keep getting state money for roads, even if the county already has a wheel tax. Senate Enrolled Act 1 and state legislators are also encouraging Indiana cities to charge a separate city income tax starting in 2028, on top of the county's income tax. Roberson said that unless the state legislature fixes it, the city will eventually have to reduce its operating budget. Cutting the operating budget will likely mean cutting city services that support roads, parks, and public safety. Roberson said the city is reviewing its budget carefully to make sure money coming in can still support its core services. 'We want the public to know: this problem was caused by SEA 1, and it's hurting every city and town in Indiana,' Roberson said. 'Elkhart is working with lawmakers to try to fix it, but we've already had to delay projects and spend extra time and money just figuring out how to respond.' The city is working with state legislators to evaluate potential changes to the act and alleviate the impact, Roberson said. He also said city employees will not have to worry about their jobs in the immediate future, despite the potential 30 percent cut. 'We are going to work diligently in the immediate future to ensure that we're there,' Roberson said. 'We have to think a 30 percent cut is pretty dramatic, but we're going to continue to work on ways that we staff and that we value in compensating our staff as we have thus far.' He said when the Indiana Conference of Mayors took place last week in the city, talk of Senate Enrolled Act 1 was on the lips of every mayor and the governor, who met with the mayors. Roberson said each city and town has a different relationship to Senate Enrolled Act 1. Some cities and towns, like Elkhart, have a healthy cash balance, while others do not. 'It's what allows us to be able to do in the short term ... some of the projects that we currently are invested in,' Roberson said. 'Like the Hively Avenue Overpass and Fire Station 6. We also are going to find our way through even though it's going to take a minute for this Public Safety Facility, but we are very, very diligent on doing so. We will take a look at our long term projects and those are the ones that will either get delayed to a larger degree and/or in some cases eliminated.' The city has invited the public at 5 p.m. Wednesday to the city council chambers, where the city council's finance committee will meet to discuss how Senate Enrolled Act 1 is affecting the city. The meeting will not have public comment. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City cuts ribbon on streetscape project
ELKHART — A newly completed $8 million streetscape project at Indiana Toll Road Exit 92 is an important improvement to one of the key entryways to the community, city officials say. Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony – using a thin metal ribbon – for the project Monday in front of the Cracker Barrel off Cassopolis Street. The area around the Toll Plaza includes a new green space, micro park, sidewalks and signage. While the project serves as an important piece for the quality of place part of the city's Aspire plan, it also serves as an economic development project, Development Services Director Mike Huber said. 'We're hoping to attract more folks to be intrigued by what they see from the design as they go into the toll road and want to check out the community and learn more about the community and drive additional revenue and business for all of the hospitality businesses,' Huber said. The city estimates there are 1.86 million annual total vehicle trips through the Exit 92 ramps. It is also estimated that there are 10.2 million total vehicle trips on the Indiana Toll Road annually, the city said. The streetscape project will change perceptions about the city to the millions of vehicles that drive on the toll road, Huber said. The project will also enhance pedestrian safety in the corridor, primarily for employees of hospitality businesses on Exit 92, he said. Mayor Rod Roberson said the project is important to how others see the community and how the community sees itself. 'Based on our growth and based on the visibility we have as a community, the way that we populate these areas and the way that we create the kind of relationship that these structures, this park, the structure on the bridge itself, it is so important to how Elkhart is seen and how it's lived,' Roberson said. Roberson said when he was first elected in 2019, the streetscape project was one of the first projects brought to him. The project will attract new visitors and make residents proud of their city, he said.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
1 dead, 11 injured in northern Indiana shooting, police say
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — One person died and 11 others were injured in a shooting in northern Indiana early Sunday, police say. It happened just after 1 a.m. in the area of West Garfield Avenue and Benham Avenue in Elkhart, which is about 16 miles east of South Bend. The Elkhart Police Department was called to the area after people reported shots fired. Twelve people were either taken by ambulance or showed up to area hospitals with gunshot wounds. One of them died, . Though his name and age haven't been released, the city's mayor says he was a father. 'For him to lose his life on Father's Day is a travesty,' said Mayor Rod Roberson in a Sunday news conference. 'This is a senseless act of gun violence that we know is way too prevalent in our country and way too prevalent in our city.' Of the other 11 people who were shot, detectives say some have gone through surgeries and others have been released from the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Roberson called for an end to violence in Elkhart. 'We have to understand this is not acceptable and it should be not a part of our everyday life,' he said. EPD said initial investigation shows multiple people were firing shots. It's not clear what led up to the shooting but police are investigating. Police did note during the news conference there were many people there at the time. They believe some were innocent bystanders. 'There were numerous people there,' a spokesperson for EPD said. 'Some people were not involved at all potentially with what was going on, just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.' Investigators haven't said anything about any possible suspects. Anyone with information should call the EPD Homicide unit at 574.295.2825 or Michiana Crime Stoppers at (7867) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ekhart Mayor Rod Roberson says 'city is heartbroken' by deadly mass shooting June 15
In a statement released Sunday afternoon, June 15, Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson extended his condolences to families of the person killed and the 11 people wounded in a mass shooting that occurred early Sunday morning. "My heart aches for our community," he said. "Once again, our beloved city has been tragically stricken by senseless gun violence." In an earlier press release, the Elkhart Police Department said multiple people fired handguns in the West Garfield Avenue/Benham Avenue area of Elkhart early Sunday morning. Police received a call of shots fired in the 300 block of West Garfield at about 1:11 a.m. June 15. Twelve people were either taken to area hospitals or showed up on their own, said police, who were said to be processing evidence in a large area between the 200 and 400 blocks of West Garfield. Some of the injured have already been treated and released, according to the first press release. "The pain and ripple effects of this devastating event will undoubtedly be felt deeply across our entire community for a long time," Roberson said in his statement. "Our city is heartbroken, and I, personally, am devastated by this profound loss and trauma." The mayor also praised the city's first responders "for their immediate and courageous actions. Their swift efforts in the face of such a horrific scene undoubtedly saved many more lives, and their dedication is truly commendable." Elkhart also was the scene of a mass shooting Jan. 27 at the Martin's Super Market on East Jackson Boulevard. In that incident, Juan M. Sanchez, 54, who had moved to Elkhart from Illinois in April 2024, shot and killed a store employee, Annasue Rocha, 19, and a store customer, Benjamin S. Jeffrey, 49. Two Elkhart Police officers, Corporal Paul Vandenburg and Patrolman Ethan Pasternak, were also injured when Sanchez shot at them after they confronted Sanchez outside the store. The officers returned fire, killing Sanchez. They were released from the hospital after being treated for their injuries, and the Elkhart County Prosecutor's office ruled their use of deadly forced justified. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, police said, asking anyone with information, video, photos or eyewitness accounts about the June 15 shootings to call the homicide unit at 574-295-2825 or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP. Tribune staff writer Cory Havens contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart mass shooting leaves 1 dead and 11 wounded
