{"id":37326,"date":"2013-05-14T16:00:39","date_gmt":"2013-05-14T20:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=37326"},"modified":"2013-05-14T16:00:39","modified_gmt":"2013-05-14T20:00:39","slug":"councilmen-offer-fiscal-reforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2013\/05\/14\/councilmen-offer-fiscal-reforms\/","title":{"rendered":"Councilmen offer fiscal reforms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2013\/02\/FortWayneCitySeal.gif\" alt=\"City of Fort Wayne seal\" width=\"150\" height=\"151\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34844\" \/><\/p>\n<p>News release from the Fort Wayne City Council:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Councilmen offer fiscal reforms<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>&#8220;Sustainable budget without income tax increases&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>(May 14, 2013) &#8211; City Councilmen Mitch Harper, R-4th and Russ Jehl, R-2nd today shared highlights of their vision for changes to the 2014 City Budget without raising income taxes. The councilmen are opposed to the proposed 0.5% Local Option Income Tax (LOIT) as a means of increasing the revenue stream to the city&#8217;s General Fund.<\/p>\n<p>Today&#8217;s event kicks off the anticipated series of discussions by the full Council at their regular meetings, to address the structural deficit in the city budget, currently at $6.5 million dollars. The Mayor&#8217;s Fiscal Policy Group met for a year to complete a &#8220;framework of ideas&#8221; for increasing revenues and decreasing expenditures. They presented recommendations to the City Council in March; the legislative body must debate their merits and come to consensus in changes to the 2014 City budget.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The challenge is clear. Let&#8217;s make sure we act in the most responsible way possible,&#8221; Harper stated. &#8220;Solutions that spend less hard earned tax dollars than we take in while funding our priorities should be the best answer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Councilors Harper and Jehl believe that the city&#8217;s budget can move from the red to the black and set on a path to sustainability&#8211;city services and necessary departmental budgets can be met for streets, parks and public safety and a healthy cash balance can be restored&#8211;without raising income taxes. Through a variety of sources that include new revenue streams coming online, banked levy, spending cuts and new state funding, Fort Wayne&#8217;s fiscal health can be achieved in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>The solutions that Harper and Jehl offer will increase funding for neglected core city responsibilities for capital expenditures such as new police cars, fire equipment and new buildings.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;An income tax increase is a big deal. Raising income taxes must be the option of last resort and we aren&#8217;t there yet,&#8221; said Jehl. &#8220;I oppose a LOIT because it will hurt hardworking families and is not merited.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Fiscal Policy Group&#8217;s other recommendations besides LOITs include annexation, a property tax called Cumulative Capital Development Fund, changes to city employees&#8217; benefits and modest Legacy Fund allocations. The two Councilmen endorse many of these other proposals and note there is common ground to work with outside of the LOIT proposal.<\/p>\n<p>A complete presentation of the Harper and Jehl proposal for an &#8220;alternative framework of ideas&#8221; will be presented at the City Council meeting tonight at 5:30 pm in Council Chambers, Rm. 25 in the Citizens Square Building.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2013\/02\/FortWayneCitySeal.gif\" alt=\"City of Fort Wayne seal\" width=\"600\" height=\"601\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-34844\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Related Images:<\/h3><div class=\"ngg-related-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/146147.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper files for re-election in the 4th District on February 18, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"5912\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/146147.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_146147.jpg\" data-title=\"Councilman Mitch Harper\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper files for re-election in the 4th District on February 18, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Councilman Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Councilman Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5912\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_146147.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148352.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Republican candidate for Fort Wayne City Council 2nd District Russ Jehl, addresses the Northside Neighborhood Association&#039;s Candidate Forum on April 11, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6046\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148352.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148352.jpg\" data-title=\"NSCF: Russ Jehl\" data-description=\"Republican candidate for Fort Wayne City Council 2nd District Russ Jehl, addresses the Northside Neighborhood Association&#039;s Candidate Forum on April 11, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"NSCF: Russ Jehl\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"NSCF: Russ Jehl\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6046\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148352.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148458.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"2nd District Republican candidates Russ Jehl and Kurt Gutman, moderator Drew Blair, and candidate Jerome Gaines at the IPFW College Republicans 2nd District City Council debate on April 18, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6089\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148458.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148458.jpg\" data-title=\"Russ Jehl, Kurt Gutman, Drew Blair and Jerome Gaines\" data-description=\"2nd District Republican candidates Russ Jehl and Kurt Gutman, moderator Drew Blair, and candidate Jerome Gaines at the IPFW College Republicans 2nd District City Council debate on April 18, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Russ Jehl, Kurt Gutman, Drew Blair and Jerome Gaines\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Russ Jehl, Kurt Gutman, Drew Blair and Jerome Gaines\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6089\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148458.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148461.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Republican candidates Kurt Gutman, Russ Jehl and Jerome Gaines during the IPFW College Republicans 2nd District City Council debate on April 18, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6090\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148461.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148461.jpg\" data-title=\"Kurt Gutman, Russ Jehl and Jerome Gaines\" data-description=\"Republican candidates Kurt Gutman, Russ Jehl and Jerome Gaines during the IPFW College Republicans 2nd District City Council debate on April 18, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Kurt Gutman, Russ Jehl and Jerome Gaines\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Kurt Gutman, Russ Jehl and Jerome Gaines\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6090\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148461.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/151537.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Republican incumbent in the City Council&#039;s 4th District, Mitch Harper at the &#039;YLNI the Vote&#039; Candidate forum held September 15, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6237\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/151537.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_151537.jpg\" data-title=\"YLNI the Vote: Mitch Harper\" data-description=\"Republican incumbent in the City Council&#039;s 4th District, Mitch Harper at the &#039;YLNI the Vote&#039; Candidate forum held September 15, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"YLNI the Vote: Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"YLNI the Vote: Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6237\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_151537.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/15img_8772.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne City Councilmen Tom Smith and Mitch Harper with Dawn at a news conference on October 11, 2011. Photo courtesy of John McGauley.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6247\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/15img_8772.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_15img_8772.jpg\" data-title=\"Tom Smith, Mitch Harper and Dawn\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne City Councilmen Tom Smith and Mitch Harper with Dawn at a news conference on October 11, 2011. Photo courtesy of John McGauley.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Tom Smith, Mitch Harper and Dawn\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Tom Smith, Mitch Harper and Dawn\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6247\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_15img_8772.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/155487.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper (R-4th) introduces Indiana State Senator David Long at his campaign kick-off on June 20, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6416\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/155487.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_155487.jpg\" data-title=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper and Indiana State Senator David Long\" data-description=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper (R-4th) introduces Indiana State Senator David Long at his campaign kick-off on June 20, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper and Indiana State Senator David Long\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper and Indiana State Senator David Long\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6416\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_155487.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/155491.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Indiana State Senator David Long at his campaign kick-off on June 20, 2012 with Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper to his right.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"6418\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/155491.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_155491.jpg\" data-title=\"Indiana State Senator David Long and Mitch Harper\" data-description=\"Indiana State Senator David Long at his campaign kick-off on June 20, 2012 with Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper to his right.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Indiana State Senator David Long and Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Indiana State Senator David Long and Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6418\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_155491.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/68501.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"A treat for the Fort Wayne City Council on the day of President Barack Obama&#039;s Inauguration.  Photo taken January 20, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10491\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/68501.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_68501.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/01\/20: President Barack Obama cookie\" data-description=\"A treat for the Fort Wayne City Council on the day of President Barack Obama&#039;s Inauguration.  Photo taken January 20, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/01\/20: President Barack Obama cookie\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/01\/20: President Barack Obama cookie\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10491\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_68501.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/68503.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake in celebration of President Barack Obama&#039;s Inauguration. Photo taken January 20, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10492\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/68503.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_68503.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/01\/20: Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake\" data-description=\"Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake in celebration of President Barack Obama&#039;s Inauguration. Photo taken January 20, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/01\/20: Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/01\/20: Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10492\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_68503.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/68505.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake in celebration of President Barack Obama&#039;s Inauguration.  Photo taken January 20, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10493\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/68505.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_68505.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/01\/20: Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake\" data-description=\"Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake in celebration of President Barack Obama&#039;s Inauguration.  Photo taken January 20, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/01\/20: Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/01\/20: Councilman Mitch Harper with an Obama &#039;Hope&#039; cake\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10493\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_68505.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/88102.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Councilman Mitch Harper and City Forester Chad Tinkel after the Council Call-in show on May 13, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10498\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/88102.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_88102.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/05\/13: Councilman Mitch Harper and City Forester Chad Tinkel\" data-description=\"Councilman Mitch Harper and City Forester Chad Tinkel after the Council Call-in show on May 13, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/05\/13: Councilman Mitch Harper and City Forester Chad Tinkel\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/05\/13: Councilman Mitch Harper and City Forester Chad Tinkel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10498\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_88102.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/94598.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Charlie White, Assistant Director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Pam Holocher, Director of Strategic Planning for the City of Fort Wayne and Councilman Mitch Harper.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10499\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/94598.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_94598.jpg\" data-title=\"Charlie White, Pam Holocher and Councilman Mitch Harper\" data-description=\"Charlie White, Assistant Director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Pam Holocher, Director of Strategic Planning for the City of Fort Wayne and Councilman Mitch Harper.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Charlie White, Pam Holocher and Councilman Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Charlie White, Pam Holocher and Councilman Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10499\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_94598.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/119582.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"City Councilman Mitch Harper and Geoff Paddock, Headwaters Park Alliance Executive Director, after the Council Call-in show on November 11, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10501\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/119582.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_119582.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/11\/11: Councilman Mitch Harper and Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"City Councilman Mitch Harper and Geoff Paddock, Headwaters Park Alliance Executive Director, after the Council Call-in show on November 11, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/11\/11: Councilman Mitch Harper and Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/11\/11: Councilman Mitch Harper and Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10501\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_119582.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/120491.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Newly elected City Council President Marty Bender and Vice-President Mitch Harper. Photo taken January 5, 2009.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='15e8479eba798cb96588da095e5d4499' data-image-id=\"10506\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/120491.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_120491.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/01\/05: Councilmen Marty Bender and Mitch Harper\" data-description=\"Newly elected City Council President Marty Bender and Vice-President Mitch Harper. Photo taken January 5, 2009.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/01\/05: Councilmen Marty Bender and Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/01\/05: Councilmen Marty Bender and Mitch Harper\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"10506\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/fort-wayne-city-council-1\/thumbs\/thumbs_120491.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>City Councilmen Mitch Harper, R-4th and Russ Jehl, R-2nd today shared highlights of their vision for changes to the 2014 City Budget without raising income taxes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1647,236],"tags":[7448,32481,15,130,21754,23,6957],"class_list":["post-37326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fw-budget","category-fort-wayne-city-council","tag-2014-city-of-fort-wayne-civil-city-budget","tag-city-of-fort-wayne-fiscal-policy-group","tag-fort-wayne-city-council-2","tag-fort-wayne-city-councilman-mitch-harper","tag-fort-wayne-city-councilman-russ-jehl","tag-fort-wayne-indiana","tag-loit-local-option-income-tax"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - 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