St. Joseph County Council to Vote on Tax Abatement Rule Changes Allowing Foreign Labor in Local Projects

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SOUTH BEND, Ind – In a move that has sparked outrage among local tradespeople and construction businesses, the St. Joseph County Council is set to vote on a controversial proposal tomorrow evening that would change tax abatement rules, opening up a backdoor to the use of foreign labor and other non-local workers on local projects. Critics argue this shift would undermine the livelihoods of the 55,000–60,000 county residents who depend on construction or trade-based incomes, funneling billions of dollars out of the local economy.

At the center of the controversy is Republican Councilwoman Amy Drake, who has been accused of siding with corporate interests over the conservative working families she was elected to represent. Drake’s actions have been characterized by opponents as part of a larger agenda aligned with corporate donors along with the embattled heads of the St. Joseph County Republican Party, Chairwoman Jackie Horvath and Vice Chair Joe Layne. It’s important to note, Layne has been criticized for paying top-performing employees and tradesman of his now defunct electrical business $10 per hour while he raked in millions for himself.

Economic Impact on Local Workers

Every dollar spent on local union labor generates $1.50–$2.00 in local economic activity, according to the North American Building Trades Unions. The proposed local rule change could divert hundreds of millions of dollars from the local economy to construction firms that hire foreign labor, including undocumented workers, who often send their earnings back to their home countries.

This outflow is part of a larger issue: In 2022, an estimated $800 billion was remitted from the United States to foreign countries. Critics argue that this money could have been reinvested in local infrastructure, schools, public safety, and Social Security.

Illegal immigration also costs the U.S. government $150 billion annually, according to a report from the Congressional House Budget Committee, further exacerbating the financial strain on American taxpayers.

Local Backlash

“The trades and construction businesses in our county stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars to foreign labor,” said one local business owner who wished not to be named. “This isn’t just about jobs; it’s about families. People who are already struggling to make ends meet with rising grocery, gas, and heating costs will be devastated.”

Local unions and community leaders are rallying against the measure, warning that it prioritizes corporate profits over local economic stability. President Trump’s election win this year underscored the demand for policies that protect American workers, and critics argue this proposal flies in the face of that mandate.

Council Members Expected to Oppose

While the measure has drawn support from Councilwoman Amy Drake and her allies, it is expected that Democrats Bryan Tanner, Mark Catanzarite, Diana Hess, and Rafael Morton will vote against it. Republican Dan Schaetzle is also anticipated to join in opposing the measure.

The vote is scheduled for tonight, December 10th, at 6 p.m. in the County-City Building in downtown South Bend.

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