Financial Capabilty Analysis for South Bend's CSO Long Term Control Plan

This analysis builds on the Crowe Chizek report in Appendix E, which details the impacts of various combined sewer overflow (CSO) program alternatives contemplated for the City of South Bend (City). This approach follows United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) advice to “submit any additional documentation that would create a more accurate and complete picture of their financial capability.” This additional analysis of various indicators is vital to gaining an understanding of the City’s economic situation and the impact that the CSO program will have on residents.

This analysis confirms Crowe Chizek’s findings that the impact of current plus Phase I costs will place the City in the Medium Burden category on USEPA’s Financial Capability Matrix. On the basis of the trends in various financial indicators and the regional conditions the City faces, this analysis also finds that, in the course of implementing Phase I of the City’s CSO program, the City is expected to move into the High Burden category. This means that the City must carefully balance the scope and timing of the LTCP with other community efforts, since the additional financial burdens of the CSO program could easily have an adverse impact on the local economy and the City’s development efforts.