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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 5, 2016 Page 16 cilmember McGehee offered her interest in looking at other ways to reduce the levy and budget, but reiterated that this wasn't going to be one of them. Councilmember Willmus opined that when reviewing the policy and what had been done with COLA over the last few years, staff was significantly ahead of that policy. Councilmember Willmus further opined that it was a disservice to at- tempt to paint a picture that wasn't supported by facts. Councilmember McGehee opined that this was what Councilmember Willmus was attempting to do between the policy and actuality over those same years; when larger COLA adjustments had been made for only a few employees of the City when the compensation study found them to be even less comparable than the majority of city employees. That COLA was provided to few select employees to bring them up closer to 98% from the 90% of average where they were at the time of the study. At the request of Councilmember Etten, Finance Director Miller reported on the various union contracts for 2017 as follows: firefighters at 2% COLA, and all oth- ers (Police Sergeants, Police Officers, and 49'ers Maintenance) at 2.75%. Councilmember Etten stated he did not support the City Manager-Recommended Budget in the COLA area; but stated he also did not support Councilmember Willmus' motion. Councilmember Etten noted that he had lost the previous battle in not personally supporting the use of $400,000 in reserves; and therefore didn't support the pro- posed use of another $406,000 in additional reserves. While not having a prob- lem allocating $406,000 for CIP uses, Councilmember Etten opined that using over $800,000 from reserves was not a responsible way to fund ongoing costs, when those expenses would need to be levied for at some point going forward. If looking to the community to pay with one-time monies, Councilmember Etten opined that it didn't make sense for budgeted operating costs, but did make more sense applying them toward CIP costs already known and not projected. Howev- er, Councilmember Etten noted that while it may be reducing levy percentages for the short-term, eventually those costs would need to be paid. By paying for them now and leaving them at an amount proposed by the City Manager, Councilmem- ber Etten opined that the City Council was paying for ongoing budgets with ongo- ing dollars, which he found to be a responsible practice. Specific to deficits, Councilmember Etten reviewed surpluses and deficits far each year from 2013 going forward; and opined that staff had been presenting a balanced budget taking those variables into account over those years. Over the last few years, Councilmember Etten opined that staff had been responsible in their use of public monies and had not gone outside what they had been directed to do by the City Council. Councilmember Etten reiterated that using one-time , ; � �: � 'w i :: u ; , i; i ,