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— Ciry Manager's2oo6 Budget Recommendations Thuisday, October 20, 2005 curity and a company pension -both of which are subject to some inflation mechanism that increases pensions with inflation.) That Roseville residents have similar or higher median incomes than residents of other cities is not a reason to raise taxes. Whether City property taxes increase and by how much depends upon the City Council's judgment about what City services we should provide to our residents and at what level of quality and cost. My point is different. My point is that it is not a sound reason to reject higher taxes to say that Roseville residents have less money to pay those taxes than resi- dents in other communities. That isn't true. The facts show the contrary. The median per capita income in Roseville is relatively high compared to other cities. Despite our higher than average median income, Roseville has much lower than average city taxes. When you reflect on those two documented facts, and then consider that Roseville city service levels are outstanding from the standpoint of quality - we have an award-winning, nationally-certifiedParks and Recreation Department, superior snow-plowing and street maintenance services.. . the best in the Metro, first-rate police and fire services with highly disciplined and highly trained personnel, an excellent and also award-winning Finance Department - I believe that makes Roseville a"best buy" in terms of city taxes and city services. I1. Overall 2006 Budget Recommendation With that background, I recommend an overa�l 10% increase in the City's tax levy for 2006 to pay for the following: ''` • 3�% citywide COLA + schedulkd step'increases for union employees and other eligible hourly wage employees that are already-built into the City Council approved pay schedule; � split 50%-56% with employees the cost increases in health care insurance premiums; • Full funding for some new 2006 cost obligations, including: o$95,000 in increased police dispatching costs paid to Ramsey County. o$26,000 in new gymnasium maintenance costs the City agreed to pay to the Roseville School District in a contract made a dozen years ago. o$25,000 for increased costs for the new records management system in the Pa�ce Department; o$25,000 for the costs of the 2006 City Election (this includes a 50 cent raise in hourly wages for election judges to keep us competi- tive with other cities); ��