Community leaders are beginning to sound off on the city's budget proposal that includes an increase in income taxes.
Greater Fort Wayne, formed through the combination of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance, backs the plans.
“Greater Fort Wayne Inc. appreciates the city's commitment to developing a long-term, sound fiscal policy,” Mike Packnett, chairman of Greater Fort Wayne's transition board, said in a statement released Tuesday. “Another important factor in our support is the opportunity to fund annual capital improvements for streets, roads, and parks facilities on a pay-as-you-go basis, rather than borrowing money.”
Meanwhile, the Allen County Board of Commissioners has urged the city of Fort Wayne to take a long, careful look at a proposal to increase local option income tax by 0.5 percent.
A statement released Tuesday morning by the commissioners stops short of endorsing an alternative budget proposal, one which would not raise income taxes, from City Councilmen Russ Jehl, R-2nd, and Mitch Harper, R-4th. But they did commend those city councilmen and call for the city to give the Harper-Jehl proposal “full study and consideration along with any other alternatives to raising taxes.”
The commissioners also asked the city to consider conducting one of its future public hearings on the subject outside Fort Wayne city limits. The commissioners noted that county residents outside Fort Wayne are likely to be affected by a tax increase.
City Controller Pat Roller says the budget squeeze is due to property tax caps in effect since 2009 that have cost the city $53 million in revenue since then. In 2012 Mayor Tom Henry formed a Fiscal Policy Group to identify ways the city could save money and increase revenue.
