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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,July 22, 2013 <br /> Page 27 <br /> could be developed that would keep the levy flat by trimming expenses where <br /> possible; recognizing that the debt service was excluded from that proposal. <br /> Laliberte moved, Willmus seconded, directing staff to return through the City <br /> Manager-recommended Budget for 2014 a proposed flat levy. <br /> Mayor Roe addressed several additional implications of that direction, including <br /> not addressing the Compensation Study recommendation or any additional posi- <br /> tions;but directing staff to figure it out and present a proposal accordingly. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte confirmed that this was her request; and if the City felt <br /> it was a priority to attempt this, they could pass that direction on to staff, based on <br /> the priorities tasked to each Department Head. Since there was yet no agreement <br /> on a policy for implementing the Compensation Study, Councilmember Laliberte <br /> opined that how and when it was funded remained an unknowns. <br /> Councilmember Willmus asked Councilmember Laliberte if she was open to a <br /> friendly amendment directing staff to present two (2) budgets for City Council <br /> consideration: one as proposed in the original motion, and the second to pre- <br /> pare a budget at the maximum levy limit allowed, excluding debt service, allow- <br /> ing the City Council and public to compare them side by side. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte accepted that friendly amendment. Councilmember <br /> Laliberte advised that she was willing to consider both, but opined that residents <br /> were continually being tapped to the extreme; and given the current level of re- <br /> serves, she was willing to have further consideration on the current policy at 35- <br /> 45%now and in the future. <br /> Friendly Amendment <br /> Direct staff to bring forward two (2) budget proposals without an extensive <br /> amount of detail: one with a zero levy increase and one with a maximum levy <br /> limit, both excluding debt service, with no further clarification and addressing <br /> levy impacts only. <br /> Interim City Manager Trudgeon clarified that all budgets did not impact property <br /> taxes across the board; and sought further direction on whether the direction was <br /> exclusive to the property tax supported levy and budget. <br /> During last week's budget discussions, Councilmember Laliberte noted that staff <br /> had been asked and confirmed that current fee levels were sufficient. <br /> Mayor Roe suggested that, based on the levy limit on revenue, that the fee- <br /> supported budget be considered frozen as well under that scenario. <br />