The Mishawaka City Council voted unanimously to join the city of South Bend and St. Joseph County in paying for legal fees in court cases involving local big box stores seeking lower property taxes.

The decision comes as local governments fear losing tax revenues from these companies, who own vacant properties locally, the South Bend Tribune reported.

Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood told the Tribune that the city could lose thousands or millions of dollars in revenue if the property taxes are reduced for those properties. He said that residents may end up paying more taxes to make up the difference.

The St. Joseph County Council approved the agreement last week, but it must still be voted on by the South Bend Common Council.

Read more about the vote and the issue with property taxes in the full story from the South Bend Tribune.