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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 9, 2013 Page 18 those positions even though they were authorized to do so by the City Council. Mr. Miller noted that this required existing staff to change their business dynamic for the salaried supervisory to work longer and harder, and to look for opportuni- ties to create as much savings from those vacancies as possible. Mr. Miller noted that the resulting surplus in the License Center Reserve Fund was a direct result of their hard work. Councilmember Willmus continued to advocate for use of those unrestricted funds from the License Center, at roughly 48% over their target level, to address the 2014 budget needs, and further reduce the tax levy. Councilmember Willmus noted that there were other adjustments he would consider, including some changes he would propose to make those reductions, including some of the sug- gestions made by Councilmember McGehee, in addition to License Center re- serves. Councilmember Etten reviewed his personal calculations in response to Coun- cilmember Willmus' 2012 and 2013 License Center reserve dollars; and ques- tioned whether a use of a portion of those reserves would negatively affect the fu- ture plans for the License Center. Mr. Miller reiterated that the surplus had been made possible due to not filling two (2) positions at the License Center, and if those positions had been filled, the result would be considerably less and actually result in a negative number. At the request of Councilmember Etten, Mr. Miller reviewed the annual results realized by the License Center over the last 5 years, with a yearly profit going back to 2005, and during the good years, an annual profit of$200,000 being real- ized, of which approximately $100,000 was transferred to the City's General Fund, leaving an average of $100,000 to accumulate in the License Center re- serves, resulting in the amassed $800,000 projected at this time. Mr. Miller clari- fied that this was done by design to accomplish the proposed scenario of prior City Councils for the long-term future of the Center. At the request of Councilmember Etten, Mr. Miller further detailed those operat- ing surpluses, closer to $300,000 annually in 2005, 2006 and 2007; while taking a hit in 2009 of$59,000 due to the economy, until the economic rebound in 2012 with gross operating revenues estimated a $240,000. Again, Mr. Miller noted that this was in part due to not filling two (2) staff positions at the License Center. At the request of Councilmember Etten, Mr. Miller further noted that the reason op- erating revenues had increased significantly in 2012 was due to additional net va- cant positions for a major portion of the year due to staff turnover, otherwise it would not have been that high. Councilmember Etten stated that he was advocating that an additional $25,000 in License Center profits be added annually for 2014 and future budgets to offset