The increased property tax revenue from Fort Wayne's historic districts totaled nearly $750,000 last year – enough to hire four new police officers and eight new city employees, a researcher said Wednesday while highlighting findings of a local historic preservation and heritage tourism study.

There would also be money left over to provide $100 monthly rental subsidies for 50 low-income families, said Donovan Rypkema of PlaceEconomics, a firm that analyzes the economic effects of historic preservation.

"Having this great inventory of historic resources in Fort Wayne gives the city quality and character that benefits everybody," he said after speaking to an Embassy Theatre audience during the Indiana's preservation conference.

More than 350 people are participating in the four-day event,

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