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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 09/13/04 <br />Minutes - Page 28 <br /> <br />[2005 Proposed Tax Levy] <br />Maschka moved, Ihlan seconded, adoption of Resolution No. <br />10243 entitled, "Resolution Submitting the Preliminary Property <br />Tax Levy on Real Estate to the Ramsey County Auditor for the <br />Fiscal Year of 2005" setting the Preliminary Levy at <br />$10,761,015, representing a 10% Levy increase for 2005. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kough spoke against the motion, opining that <br />more discussion and consensus was required on issues such as <br />eliminating a proposed community survey, and not making any <br />additional staff cuts. <br /> <br />Councilmen1ber Maschka reviewed those funding items included <br />in the proposed motion: 1) forgoing the implementation of a <br />street light utility or gas and electric franchise fee; restoration of <br />a ~ year funding for the Police Department Civilian position; 3) <br />restoration of funding for the l~ature Center position; and 4) <br />restoration of funding for one maintenance position. <br />Councilmember Maschka noted that the recommendation did not <br />include funding for the custodial position or one maintenance <br />position; nor did it restore funding for the Parks Improvement <br />Program (PIP) or the City's contribution to the Ambassador <br />Foundation or the I-35W Corridor Coalition. Councilmember <br />Maschka noted that the proposed levy did bring the City back to <br />structural neutrality, was reasonable, and anticipated that the City <br />Council could find additional expense reductions and/or revenue <br />sources to further reduce the Preliminary Levy prior to Final <br />Levy adoption. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kough opined his desire for and confidence in <br />the Council's ability to find further reductions, suggesting <br />immediately that the proposed community survey, at $25,000, <br />could be elin1inated. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued as to whether the survey was funded from the <br />General Levy or the Con1ffiunication Fund. <br /> <br />Mayor Klausing opined his concurrence with Councilmember <br />Kough's opinion that the proposed 10% Preliminary was too <br />high; advising that he would not support a Final Levy that high, <br />further opining that high of an increase was too much to ask of <br />