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<br />Special City Council Minutes - 09/09/02 <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />issues; referred to off-loading huge costs for benefits to lower <br />level employees; complimented staff and Council on the <br />proposed 1.65% increase at less than inflation levels; three <br />Councilmembers not having experienced a full year of <br />budgeting experience with the City; and citizens having made <br />an investment with the City in allowing the reserves to be built <br />up, understanding that there was a commitment from the City <br />Council to continue keeping spending limits in line. Ms. <br />McGehee asked that Council proceed with the staff <br />recommended levy, and consider further budget reductions as <br />may be appropriate. <br />Ms. McGehee returned to the podium later to thank the City <br />Council for the decrease in overall tax rates. <br /> <br />Dick Lambert, 800 Brenner <br />Mr. Lambert spoke to the expertise of professional staff to <br />manage a complex budget, and stated the levy should stay as <br />adopted and if further budget cuts were needed, to review them <br />over the next few months. <br /> <br />Lois Forsblad, 1057 Harriet Lane North <br />Ms. Forsblad spoke to her property insurance having tripled, <br />and that a zero percent budget was not a reality, even with the <br />decertification of tax increment financing districts; expressed <br />her concern regarding tapping into reserves, which had been <br />held for a reason. <br /> <br />Joe Rossini, 440 West County Road C <br />Mr. Rossini said there should be no problem in finding <br />$278,000 in budget cuts, within one department alone. <br /> <br />Tim Higgins, 1498 West County Road C-2 <br />Mr. Higgins encouraged Councilmembers to continue to look at <br />equipment and personnel reductions, but was unsure of whether <br />a zero percent increase was feasible. <br /> <br />Mayor Kysylyczyn asked three times for additional public <br />comment from the audience, and asked that the record show <br />that no one else came forward. <br /> <br />Further Council and staff discussion included Police <br />