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I believe it is our responsibility to provide residents information regarding a balanced budget and some assurance that we have a program to achieve that goal. If we are able to achieve that goal, barring some unforeseen problems or the desire of the residents to tax themselves through referendum,their taxes should be increased only by the cost of living and/or inflation rates for the next several years. We should also involve residents in the process of reviewing all programs and services to assist in finding cuts which could be used to offset future expenditures for new programs or even to offset increases due to inflation. Building a new fire station on the city campus and upgrading our first class park system increases the desirability of our community and thus benefits both commercial and residential properties. Our parks and recreation facilities and programs will help us attract new members to our community. Our first rate fire department with highly qualified EMTs to help us when we are sick or injured are a benefit to everyone taken ill or injured in Roseville. We want to locate them in a modern facility in the heart of our city so that they are able to reach most locations within 3.5 minutes,critical minutes for a heart attack or other life threatening event. But these"amenities"come with a cost. I believe it is imperative that before citizens are asked to vote on referendums(or we are asked to consider bonds)to increase taxes,that residents understand what they are already committed to spend. To me, at this point is the$5.00 per month in taxes and the$1.00 per month on the utility bill base cost is the figure presently necessary to sustainably support the programs and services currently provided to residents and so lauded and valued in the recent City survey results. This understanding of the"real" cost of a "balanced,sustainable"budget for what we have now is essential in going forward and to the evaluation of additional expenditures being proposed. It is also critical,I believe,that a complete and accurate presentation of costs, not just including initial implementation but ongoing staffing, maintenance, and other miscellaneous charges whose costs will fall into the operating budget and thus raising the cost of what is defined as"sustainable," is essential for residents to allow them to properly evaluate the choices they are being asked to make. Presenting all this information as clearly and accurately as possible is,to me,the basis of"truth in taxation." Tammy McGehee The following e-mail was in response to my question to Chris is what would be required to achieve a "balanced budget"where revenues alone supplied our operating cost and sufficient,ongoing,adequate amounts to fund capital expenditures. Subject: [SPAM]RE:Budget Proposal From: Chris Miller<chris.miller @ci.roseville.mn.us> Date: Mon,Aug 15,2011 1:19 pm To: Tammy McGehee<tam @mcgehee.info> Cc: Dan Roe<dan.roe @comcast.net>,Bill Malinen<bill.malinen@ci.roseville.mn.us> I think most, if not all,of the discussion boils down to one's definition of'sustainable' The 2012 City Manager Recommended Budget(revised)calls for a levy increase of$262,500,which translates Page 4 of 5