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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 21, 2009 Page 11 Klausing moved, Johnson seconded, adoption of Resolution No. 10772 entitled, "Resolu- tion Submitting the Final Property Tax Levy on Real Estate to the Ramsey County Audi- tor for the Fiscal Year of 2010;" in the amount of $14,300,000. Councilmember Ihlan expressed frustration that on pages 2 and 3 of the Request for Council Action (RCA), the chart listed elections in 2010 as a new expenditure when it was a given expense in even years and should not be indicated as a new expense to justify increased taxes. Mayor Klausing noted that election funds in the 2009 budget had been removed to reduce the budget; thus the increase for 2010. Councilmember Ihlan opined that this shouldn't be done in future years. Councilmember Thlan requested an explanation of the additional $12,500 in legal fees from 2009. City Manager Malinen advised that this represented an adjustment from that budgeted for 2009. Councilmember Ihlan opined that an agreement should be negotiated to maintain legal costs at current levels. Councilmember Ihlan requested further clarification on park maintenance and deprecia- tion and whether this represented any reduced positions. Mr. Miller advised that there was no additional funding for existing positions that were already filled; however, it was proposed to leave certain positions vacant for the present time. Further discussion included other staffing positions identified on pages 1 and 2 of the RCA and impacts to various departments; reinstatement of the outdoor skating rinks; and previous actions taken in the spring of 2009 to address the reduced state funding of $400,000. Councilmember Ihlan requested information on how the additional internal loan in the amount of $490,000 could be removed as atax-supported obligation, since it represented a significant portion of the proposed increase, possibly by using reserves. Mr. Miller advised that it was the use of reserves that necessitated that $490,000 annual expense; with the City taking measures in early 2001 to pay off bonds early, by using re- serves, with additional levy dollars set aside, resulting in substantial annual savings. However, Mr. Miller noted that as a result, this internal loan (from the Pavement Man- agement Fund) was being repaid, with the last payment scheduled for 2010, relieving that obligation in the 2011 budget. Mr. Miller suggested that, if the City Council chose not to