(Michigan City, IN) - The city council in Michigan City wants to study a proposal to give money to people needing help because of COVID-19 before taking action.  The city council Tuesday night scheduled a workshop for next week to further discuss the measure.  There are concerns about the city overextending itself since the impact of joblessness on property tax revenue is not known right now.

Nevertheless, city council president Sean Fitzpatrick says he supports the idea and commended city councilwoman Angie Nelson Deuitch for her proposals. One proposal would also make money available to small business owners from a revolving loan fund overseen by the city’s economic development corporation. The other proposal would take $750,000 from the city’s Promise Scholarship Fund to help people pay things like rent and utility bills. Officials said two thousand unemployment claims have been filed in Michigan City.