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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, September 10, 2012 Page 6 to provide their recommendations prior to tonight's discussion and decision in setting the Preliminary, not-to-exceed 2013 budget and levy, necessary for sub- mission to the Ramsey County Auditory by September 15, 2012. Councilmember McGehee expressed the way the decision-making was done by the City Council in looking at the CIP, General Budget, and Housing and Rede- velopment Authority (HRA) budget as three (3) separate items, rather than as a package since they all involved tax levies and expenditure of public monies. In her personal calculations, Councilmember McGehee estimated that those CIP Subcommittee recommendations (page 9 of their memorandum) and full bond funding, would add a net levy over a ten (10)-year period of 113% levy in- crease. Councilmember McGehee noted that the Department Strategic Plan documents indicated a staff increase of 12.5 full-time equivalents (FTE) from 2012 to 2017; and if the City moved forward with full bonding, it would add an additional $2.2 million in debt service every year during the period outlined, representing that 113%. Councilmember McGehee opined that, when the amounts were considered in isolation, it didn't provide a full picture of things coming forward. Councilmember McGehee stated that, when the biennial budget process was started, she had been surprised to hear a fellow Councilmember state that the only levy increase in 2012 would be for employee cost of living adjustments (COLA) and perhaps only a 2-3% increase. Councilmember McGehee opined that the City was now looking at a 17.1% increase, plus the HRA and CIP in- creases. As a process, Councilmember McGehee opined that things needed to be considered together in one vision; and while the recommendations are a great start for the CIP, these initiatives had been started prior to economic changes, which provided no indications of improving any time soon. Councilmember McGehee stated that the other community visioning done to-date (e.g. Parks Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and Imagine Roseville 2025) were also done prior to the current economic situation. Councilmember McGehee referenced an article in today's Star Tribune about infrastructure throughout Minnesota; as well as a recent PBS story on Minneso- ta infrastructure entitled, "Liquid Assets" that discussed this very critical prob- lem for many Minnesota communities. Councilmember McGehee opined that a meaningful and timely discussion was needed for the City Council and community at this time. b. Adopt a Preliminary 2013 Tax Levy and Budget Mayor Roe provided a bench handout entitled, "2013 Property Tax Levy Analy- sis dated 9/10/12;"attached hereto and made a part hereto.