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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - NOVEMBER 17,2008 <br /> <br />17 <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung indicated the fire department budget has numbers that <br />include an assistant chief. He stated he reported the City of Arden Hills would not <br />support that position, which would reduce the budget by $13,348. <br /> <br />Finance Director Iverson indicated this would reduce the levy to 5.4% creating a <br />4.8% increase in the tax rate to 20.520. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden questioned if the fire department was a partnership how <br />the City of Arden Hills could be kept from paying our percentage. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead agreed, but stated the position of the Council at this time was <br />not to support this position and to reconsider how the fire department could seek <br />out better efficiencies amongst their staff. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding the EDA fund transfer and the negative balance. <br />Finance Director Iverson stated the fund transfer for 2009 would allow the fund <br />to eliminate the negative balance. She noted a swing in property values and taxes <br />being taken in shifted the balance but that future expansion in the City will make <br />this a viable fund. <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant indicated he would be in favor of lowering the levy to <br />5.4% based on the fact the City will not be supporting the assistant chief position <br />for the fire department. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung questioned what the obligated balance of the 2008 <br />budget was and ifthere would be surplus. <br /> <br />Finance Director Iverson stated the audit report has not been run to date, but that <br />there could be roughly $80,000 to use towards additional projects. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead indicated he felt it was not the responsibly of the City to take <br />the residents money and store it, but only take it when the City has an investment <br />that increases the value of the community. He felt the bridge across County Road <br />E would be a positive investment in the City. <br /> <br />Finance Director Iverson stated the Park Fund is struggling and will need to look <br />at a new revenue source since charitable gambling funds were not available. She <br />stated if the fire department position were not funded the additional funds could to <br />the Park Fund. <br />