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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 17, 2013 Page 32 struggled with defining it that way versus providing good wages and a good work environment. To consider making financial adjustments in this particular year with recent legislative limits, Councilmember Laliberte opined would be very dif- ficult to do. However, in the upcoming Department Head budget discussions, if the City Council heard departments address their priorities and whether this was more important or a higher priority than adding a volunteer coordinator, or this or that particular program or service, Councilmember Laliberte stated that this would provide a better context for her. While appreciating receiving the Human Re- sources perspective, Councilmember Laliberte advised that she still needed to hear those department priorities, based on a flat, decreased or increased budget and levy and how they would respond. Mayor Roe noted that the reason for the compensation study was to determine where the City fell in the market place in an effort to avoid attrition of employees. Mayor Roe suggested that the City Council keep in mind that it would be very difficult to implement this in 2014, even if done in three (3) stages. Mayor Roe suggested that one option, in 2013, would be to use reserves to avoid bumping against the levy limit. However, Mayor Roe concurred with Councilmember Laliberte's suggestion to have the discussion in the context of Department Head budget discussions, similar to that of the CIP funding crisis addressed several years ago; with operating costs reduced to apply to capital funding, with everyone taking a hit and solving CIP funding. Mayor Roe noted that the City's employees were one of its most important areas of capital; but spoke in opposition to borrow- ing ahead or using reserves as a way to defer the hit. Councilmember Willmus concurred with the comments of Mayor Roe, specifical- ly in the context of budget discussions. Regarding the possible use of using re- serves for funding, Councilmember Willmus opined that he was willing to look at that provided there was a more in-depth conversation and that it included a dis- cussion of reserve ratios. Mayor Roe cautioned using reserves requires the City to do that each year until revenue became available, creating the same sustainability problem currently be- ing addressed. Councilmember Willmus referenced former Councilmember Pust's comment that there was a reason for organized labor in certain areas; opining that this was one of them. Mayor Roe noted that this still didn't address or avoid the cost. Councilmember Willmus concurred; however, he noted that it made sense to step back and look at potential funding mechanisms, as suggested by Councilmember Laliberte and Mayor Roe in the context of the broader picture.