DEAR WAYNEDALE READERS
We are off to a great start in 2006. Please plan to attend my Report to the People session to the Southwest Area Partnership. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15 at 7 p.m. at Canterbury High School, 3210 Smith Rd. These sessions are a great opportunity for us to talk about issues important to you.
The “Mayor’s Money in Your Pocket” Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program is underway. The EITC program assists lower income working families apply for tax refunds. There are several sites this year for eligible residents to use free tax preparation services. The sites include the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office, the Volunteer Center, CANI-Salvation Army, and the East Wayne Street Center. For more information, call 211 or 424-3505. In 2005, $1.6 million in tax refunds was received by working families. There has been an increase in participation and refunds each year since the program started in 2003. In 2003, $250,000 was returned to the local economy. In 2004, the total was just over $1 million. We are hoping to bring more than $1.6 million back to working families this year.
I recently expressed my support for proposed legislation in the Indiana General Assembly that promotes more local control and flexibility for municipalities. House bills 1399 and 1400 propose reducing the reliance on property taxes, establishing alternatives for financing local government, creating efficient and effective local government, and assisting the State of Indiana in balancing its budget.
Local governments need to have more flexibility at the local level to make key decisions. We want to continue the momentum for efficient and effective government. The City and Allen County have worked together to produce the first joint homeland security department. Another successful collaboration is the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance, which has helped us retain and gain thousands of jobs. We want to continue to form high performance partnerships to benefit you.
Graham Richard
Mayor
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