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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – OCTOBER 13, 2014 6 During the 2014 budget discussions, the Finance and Administrative Services department suggested eliminating the intern/student workers and replacing this with a permanent part-time position to give more continuity and eliminate the constant training period as interns/student workers were replaced causing backlogs and many times preventing staff from accomplishing projects and Council goals in a timely manner. Council chose at that time to deny this request and eliminated the intern/student workers from the department entirely. The 2015 budget does include the re-establishment of the intern/student workers in the department, but Council should be aware that this staff person is also a revenue source to the General Fund as an Administrative Service Charge to other funds – removing this expenditure will decrease the expenditure budget by $17,224, but it will also decrease the revenue budget by $10,831 making the total change $6,393. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson explained that information on the preliminary budget and levy has been updated per Council direction at the September 22, 2014, work session, but staff has not prepared revised books at this time. Councilmember Holden discussed the supplemental data supplied by staff. She expressed frustration with the data the Council has received regarding the employee health insurance. She asked how many employees received health insurance through the City. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson reported that the City has 27 employees receiving health insurance in 2014. Councilmember Holden recommended that the COLA in the budget be reduced to 1.5% until the Council can review the study. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson stated that she could revise the budget to reflect a 1.5% increase. Councilmember McClung noted that if he did not have enough information by December, he would not be able to support the budget and tax levy. Further discussion ensued regarding the budget, employee health insurance and premium amounts. It was noted that the premium for family health insurance is more than double the cost of single health insurance. Councilmember Holmes expressed concern with the amount of money the City was paying for health insurance. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson provided the Council with a brief history on the City’s health insurance plans, premiums and expenses. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson commented that in September of 2001, the City Council authorized all employees to receive Benefit Parity effective October 1, 2001. This meant that every employee would receive the same insurance payment benefit whether single or family coverage was taken. She provided the recommendation given at a September 2001 work session and the September 24, 2001, minutes when the policy was adopted. This