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City Council Regular Meeting - 08/22/05 Minutes - Page 23 from the 2006 budget for general operating funds, to allow incorporation of needed items (i.e., CSO's and addition of a traffic officer). Councilmember Maschka opined his support for an 8% to 9% preliminary levy increase, with anticipated reductions as the Council reduced items from that point. Councilmember Maschka opined that he didn't expect that the Police Department was going to receive all of their requests; and further opined his lack of support for the Fire Department requests. Mayor Klausing reminded Councilmembers of the Preliminary Levy on a "not to exceed" adoption on September 12, 2005, with further reductions sought over the next few months. Councilmember Kough noted his concerns with the ranking of the Police Department and implications while trying to provide incentives. Councilmember Ihlan noted the substantial levy increase for residents last year, with the referendum and increased property tax values; and opined that it would be difficult to justify another double-digit levy increase, when adding the HRA Levy. Councilmember Ihlan further opined that it was not necessarily reasonable to assume that because Roseville taxes are lower than other comparison communities, that it was good policy to raise them; noting that keeping taxes low was an important asset for the community. Councilmember Ihlan observed that the burden of property taxes fell to two segments of the population: the senior population on fixed incomes and young families who were being encouraged to remain and/or relocate to Roseville. Councilmember Ihlan discussed the impacts, both short and long-term, for the Twin Lakes development, increases in health insurance premiums, increased fuel and shared-dispatch center costs; and opined that the City needed to be extremely frugal and conservative this year by tapping into reserves with good management. Councilmember Ihlan spoke in support of bearing the employee portion of rising health costs; and opined her support of an inflationary-only levy increase to maintain existing services, with little or no expansion this year; and no more than a 3% to 5% overall levy increase (inclusive of the HRA Levy).