Council refers multiple budget and finance bills to committees; large appropriation bill set for public hearing

During its Sept. 8 session the South Bend Common Council gave first readings and committee referrals to a series of budget- and finance-related ordinances, scheduling public hearings and third readings for later dates.

Clerk Tirado read Bill 54-25, described on first reading as a multi-fund supplemental appropriations ordinance for 2025. The clerk’s reading listed multiple funds and amounts including an item identified as $2,237,538 from the general fund and smaller appropriations from park and recreation, motor vehicle highway, the Studebaker-Oliver revitalization grants fund, and several other departmental and capital funds. The council voted to send Bill 54-25 to the Personnel and Finance Committee for public hearing and third reading on Sept. 22.

The council also gave first readings and committee referrals for: Bill 55-25 (budget transfers for various departments, sent to Personnel and Finance Committee with a Sept. 22 public hearing), Bill 56-25 (levying taxes and adopting the 2026 civil city budget, sent to Personnel and Finance Committee for public hearing Sept. 22 and to Committee of the Whole for third reading Oct. 13), Bill 57-25 (South Bend Public Transportation Corporation 2026 budget and levy, referred to Personnel and Finance for Sept. 22 public hearing and Committee of the Whole for Oct. 13 third reading) and Bill 58-25 (authorizing a direct loan to a developer for a low-barrier emergency shelter project, sent to Community Investment Committee for Sept. 22 public hearing and third reading).

Council members approved motions to refer the bills by voice vote; no substantive debate occurred on the first readings. Each bill will return for advertised public hearings in the appropriate committee on Sept. 22, with some scheduled for later committee-of-the-whole consideration.