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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, September 14, 2009 Page 15 achieving that set aside for projected costs; and encouraged future discipline in catching up. Councilmember Pust spoke in support of levying back some portion of the lost $450,000 (#1); funding in its entirety staff recommendation #2 to meet all statu- tory and contractual obligations; and a portion of vehicle replacement and infla- tionary needs. Councilmember Ihlan spoke against the motion; however, recognized that it was an improvement over the original motion. Councilmember Ihlan noted her disso- lution with the proposed strategy to "tax to the max" in the preliminary levy just in case it was needed for the final budget, when the City Council had yet to have a proposed budget before them that would correspond to that amount and proposed significant tax increase. Councilmember Ihlan expressed further concern in the lack of evidence that people were able to afford such an increase, even though the Mayor believed they could. Councilmember Ihlan spoke to testimony heard to- night from Mr. Grefenberg to the contrary, at least from a senior citizen perspec- tive. Councilmember Ihlan, given that there was no proposed budget to work with, advised that it was hard for her to come up with an alternative number, and suggested being more in line with surrounding communities, noting that the only community above 9% to-date was Minneapolis, and was based on their substantial loss in state aid and unallotments. Councilmember Johnson noted that he was attempting to be mindful of levy lim- its, and was not indicating that he would support a 15% budget increase. How- ever, he opined that there was wisdom in allowing a larger framework within which to refine the budget process. Councilmember Johnson, while being more comfortable with a larger framework for this first-time BFO process, spoke in support of Councilmember Roe's motion. Councilmember Pust advised that she would have supported staff recommenda- tion #2 at $453,00, as not doing so would indicate that the City was not going to pay their bills; expressed concern that there had yet to be a discussion on em- ployee health care increases and potential staff burdens and potential need for as- sistance from the City for a potential 15% increase in those costs; and her phi- losophical concerns in staff recommendation #1 to balance the budget. Roll Call Ayes: Roe; Johnson; and Klausing. Nays: Pust and Ihlan. Motion carried. Pust moved, Roe seconded, adoption of Resolution No. 10748 entitled, "Resolu- tion Directing the County Auditor to Adjust the Approved Tax Levy for 2010 Bonded Debt: in the amount of $84,533.56; amended to revise language of the