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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, December 15, 2008 <br />Page 27 <br />Further discussion included the history of depreciation accounts; accelerating <br />funding for depleted funds due to their insufficient funding or excessive depletion <br />in past budget cycles; and seeking another year of income on that set-aside money <br />to cover increased costs of assets. <br />Public Comment <br />John Kysylyczyn, 3083 N Victoria Street <br />Mr. Kysylyczyn took issue with a comment related to creating more union em- <br />ployees by not providing COLA fro non-union employees; and abusiness-owner <br />type question of whether those employees had alternate employment or other op- <br />tions. Mr. Kysylyczyn opined that if those non-union employees were to become <br />unionized, with union dues, they would end up paying more in the long run. <br />Mr. Kysylyczyn questioned if the City actually needed the level of reserves they <br />currently held, or whether they could actually cancel property taxes for atwo-year <br />period and simply use reserve funds. <br />Mr. Kysylyczyn reviewed the amount of taxes he'd actually pay over afifty-year <br />period, with the staff-recommended levy increase; and volunteered to support the <br />proposed tax increase if the City Council promised to repeal it in 2010 rather than <br />building upon it. <br />At the request of Mayor Klausing, City Manager Malinen again reviewed the ra- <br />tionale and advantages in advocating for budgeting for outcomes, and the ability <br />to cost out services and levels of service in order to provide the City Council and <br />community with the ability to choose given available resources and plan better for <br />multi-year budgets, with staff recommending initiation of a biennial budget. <br />At 9:58 p.m., Pust moved, Klausing seconded, suspending the City Council <br />Rules of Procedure and self-imposed 10:00 curfew to extend the meeting to <br />finish discussion of the 2009 Budget. <br />Roll Call <br />Ayes: Ihlan; Willmus; Pust; Roe; and Klausing. <br />Nays: None. <br />Further discussion ensued regarding Councilmember Ihlan's motion; and consid- <br />eration by Councilmember Pust's proposal to not fund the $340,000 for vehi- <br />cle/equipment funds for 2009; individual and future Council review and action on <br />each purchase over $5,000; purchasing adjustments and rationale; and whether to <br />tap into reserves for necessary asset replacement if not sufficient levy funds. <br />Mr. Miller advised Councilmembers that they were setting in motion a tentative <br />spending plan for 2009 by their actions and subsequent appropriations. Mr. <br />Miller noted that staff was charged with forecasting expenses and revenues for <br />