SJC Council votes to remove 'minority' from tax abatement ordinance

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- During a meeting that ran over five hours on Tuesday night, the St. Joseph County Council voted to pass Bill No. 52-25 which removes any references and requirements related to Affirmative Action in regards to county tax abatement policy."

The vote, which was tallied 5-4 in favor, came after nearly an hour and a half of public comment.

The bill deletes any and all mention of the word "minority" from Chapter III, Section 35 of the St. Joseph County Tax Abatement Ordinance Code. 

The three subsections the bill deals with directly are subsection 35.05 which defines a Base abatement, subsection 35.30 which details  information required of the applicant seeking a tax abatement, and subsection 30.45 which addresses requirement to appear and update information.

An amendment to the bill which would still remove "minority" but mention the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Equal Opportunity Act of 1972 was brought to a vote and shot down, 5-4.

A motion to kill Bill 52-25 also failed, 5-4.

Loud boos rang out from the crowd in attendance after the vote and one person was even asked to leave. 

"The St. Joseph County Council believes the Fairness and Equal Treatment Ordinance should be used to remove the current affirmative action language in the St. Joseph County Tax Abatement Ordinance," the beginning of the bill reads.