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The following table identif'res sorne, bui not all, of the l�udget reduc�io�zs that have been made in the past 5 years. As the table indicates, duz�i�g t�e past 5 years, 4.5 �T�'s have been eliminated from the Ci�y's core f�nciions, re,s�titing in a p�rmar�ent budget reduction o�' appraximaiely $272,000. In addition, the Cify has through at3ritian, do�rngradec� a r��rnber ai existing positions res�lting in a budget reductiaz� a�' ap�raximately $20,004. T�e eli�aination of �l�ese positions and reduction in parks f�nding coincided wiih the loss of state-aid, at�d the desire by the Council at the time to minimize �rnperty tax increases. �'�e-based pxograins and serviees such as �he City's Uii�ity 4perations, Cammunity Development fiiz�ctio�, and Rec�eation programming, have generaily �naintai�ec� sexvice levels thanks ta regular increases in user fees. �n��act an Pragra�s and Serviees While the empioyee po�itioiis na�ed above remain vacant, the services that were performed by tl�ese employees eon�inued. At ihe tirne �hese euts were made, it was aekz�awiedged t�Zat citizens' expectatio�s re�aained t�:e sa�e, sa all pragraz�s rez�ained. In addiizan, a concerted e�'�ort was made to e��sure that thos� programs �hai w�re highly visible; s�eh as polic�, fire, streets, and paz-ks & recreatia� prag�ams cor�t�nueci to receive e�phasis t�arough �e budget process. This, however, ca�ne at t�e expense o� th.e City's inter�al support firanctions such as Infor�nation Technnlogy, rinance a�d Accoun.ting, and Administration. As a resul� of �he financial challenges and budget decisians made aver the past 5 years, the City today is in a weaker overall �na�cial conditaon, a�d absent new fu��ding, 1S pOflI'I�-j]flS1t10i1�C� t0 improve service levels for �he City's core services. T�is downt�rn is compn�ded by the fact that the City has l�een sorr�er�hat reliant on the use af reserves tn fund current o�erations, and has not �ully funded i�s asset replacement prngrarns. 2