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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 11, 2014 Page 10 Mr. Grefenberg clarified that he was speaking for himself, as a private citizen, and not in his role as a commissioner or spokesperson for any neighborhood groups. Mr. Grefenberg offered his agreement with the comments of Mr. Kysylyczyn, and asked that the City Council recognize that over the last eight years, the City's tax levy had increased by over 44%, not including the 2015 proposed levy increase. Also,based on his research of Ramsey County records, Mr. Grefenberg stated that the City of Roseville's per capita taxation was the highest in the county at $510 per person, compared with the second highest by the City of Maplewood at $451 per person, and the City of Arden Hills at$341 per person. While not supporting rehashing past issues, such as the Parks Renewal Program and Fire Station Construction bond issue, Mr. Grefenberg suggested that the City Council focus on regressive taxes for those without the ability to pay: renters, sen- ior citizens, and immigrant populations within Roseville. Mr. Grefenberg ques- tioned the continued annual levy increase when such a large surplus or reserve was available, based on his understanding of the City Manager's recommended budget in his July 11, 2014 RCA, especially if and when those surpluses are not required, indicating that Roseville residents had been overtaxed over the last eight years. Mr. Grefenberg strongly encouraged the City Council to consider a budget based on a person's ability to pay. Mr. Grefenberg noted his budget questions, which he offered to provide to City Manager Trudgeon in writing, as follows: 1) How much of the 2013 budget and levy remained unspent at the end of the year, as well as unspent funds over the last eight years; and whether all of those amounts continued forward in future levies? 2) Are his calculations of a$21 million to $29 million surplus and range correct; 3) Why is there a difference in the proposed 5.5% increase in the July 14, 2014 City Manager recommended budget and tonight's proposed increase of$.9% and what impact does that have on the property tax levy? Mr. Grefenberg opined that it seemed to him that the money was proposed to be used for staff raises and adding new positions; and further opined it was time to freeze any additional hiring and get the money back to the public, as stakeholders. 4) Mr. Grefenberg suggested reducing or eliminating the proposed COLA and supply increases from 2%rather than as proposed in the July 14, 2014 memo. 5) Mr. Grefenberg suggested that staff COLA be eliminated for any administra- tors/staff receiving $75,000 or more in annual wages versus the proposed 2% COLA increase, making it income based similar to the senior utility discount. While Mr. Grefenberg noted that some taxpayers could afford the proposed tax levy increase, many could not, especially renters, senior citizens, or those on low- er incomes; and reiterated his suggestion for a property tax based on a person's