ST. JOSEPH COUNTY TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE
The St. Joseph County Council passed a tax abatement ordinance supported by the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement on March 17, 2009. The Community Forum for Economic Justice was a member of that coalition, which included labor union, environmental, religious, business, and community organizations.
Here are some relevant documents:
Summary of the ordinance
Minutes of St. Joseph County Council meeting, March 17, 2009
The complete ordinance as passed in 2009
The ordinance as included in the St. Joseph County Code of Ordinances
This ordinance was essentially repealed by the St. Joseph County Council on November 12, 2025. Here is the post on our website about this repeal.
COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE TAX ABATEMENT
Here is a list of the organizations that participated in the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement.
Principles adopted by the Coalition that need to be included in any tax abatement ordinance:
— Improve Wages for Low-Income Workers
— Maintain an Affirmative Action Plan
— Invest in Economically Distressed Areas
— Link Tax Subsidies to Benefits in the Community
— Documentation and Compliance for companies receiving abatements
SOUTH BEND TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE
The Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement drafted a bill to revise South Bend’s existing tax abatement ordinance. It was presented to the South Bend Common Council by Mayor Steve Luecke and co-sponsored by six of the nine Council members.
Here are some relevant documents:
Summary of the proposed ordinance
The complete ordinance — a revision of the current ordinance — as presented to the Council
A rival bill was presented to the Council and, due to various political considerations, our bill was not passed by the Council.