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City Council Study Session — 05/17/04 <br />DRAFT Minutes - Page 16 <br />Councilmember Schroeder referenced an e-mail he had <br />previously addressed to Finance Director Miller that outlined his <br />preferred format showing a two-year line item budget to alert the <br />Council and staff of future needs. Councilmember Schroeder <br />concurred with the proposed timeline; but noted that he would <br />prefer to see a proposed line item budget prior to making <br />determinations related to the substance issues identified by City <br />Manager Beets (i.e., critical infrastructure needs and/or <br />community services). <br />Councilmember Kough, noting the difficult decisions made over <br />the last two years, opined that it was evident that a"zero <br />increase" levy was not an option. Councilmember Kough also <br />opined that the elimination of two positions (Assistant Police <br />Chief and Assistant City Manager) did not appear to have had <br />adverse affects on operations. <br />Councilmember Maschka opined his preference for working <br />backwards by dealing with the structural issue created by the tax <br />shifting by the state and inflationary issues, creating an <br />approximate projected increase of $700,000. Councilmember <br />Maschka requested that staff prepare a preliminary budget <br />prefaced on that increase, in order for Councilmembers to see <br />what impacts that would have on taxpayers; noting his sense of <br />the community spirit was that they were willing to pay more <br />taxes to maintain the level of services received at this time. <br />Councilmember Maschka further opined that, should the state <br />make a determination to return aid to cities, those monies not be <br />considered for operational needs and that they be administered <br />differently; noting that local governments historically managed <br />funds more efficiently, but that cities should not depend on state <br />funding. <br />Mayor Klausing concurred that the structural shortfall was a high <br />priority and needed resolution once and for all. <br />Further discussion ensued regarding Councilmember Maschka's <br />recommended first cut of the 2005 Budget reflecting an increase <br />in the levy of $700,000. <br />