FORT WAYNE, Ind (WOWO): City Councilmen Mitch Harper and Russ Jehl today shared 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 as a means of increasing the revenue stream to the city’s General Fund.

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:

“An income tax increase is a big deal. Raising income taxes must be the

 option of last resort and we aren’t there yet,” said Jehl. “I oppose a LOIT

 because it will hurt hardworking families and is not merited.”

Today’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.

A complete presentation of the Harper and Jehl proposal for an “alternative framework of ideas” will be presented at the City Council meeting tonight at 5:30 pm in the Citizens Square Building.