South Bend budget approved

By JEFF PARROTT, South Bend Tribune Staff Writer

jparrott@sbtinfo.com

SOUTH BEND - Two years of anxiety ended Monday night as the city's Common Council unanimously approved the 2010 city budget.

Since the General Assembly passed property tax cuts in 2007 - cuts that began taking effect this year and will kick in even more in 2010 and 2011 - city leaders had searched for ways to maintain popular services with less revenue.

The recession has exacerbated the situation by forcing declines in other city revenue streams.