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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, February 28, 2011 Page 25 Councilmember Johnson suggested a quick, simple exercise to determine where this type of budget would go: showing a zero budget; and a 10% differential in payroll to compensate for capital needs; and they both looked from staff's pers- pective and which programs and/or services would drop off. Mayor Roe suggested that in order to do that the prioritization process needed to be done to inform that staff exercise. Councilmember Willmus questioned Finance Director Miller on the timing of in- formation from Ramsey County on tax capacity for the City; and the Auditor's Report. Finance Director Miller responded that typically preliminary aggregate estimates on tax capacity rates were received from Ramsey County in mid- to late-April; and the Auditor's Report typically by the end of March. Discussion ensued regarding when final numbers were available including legisla- tive actions; preference to have a target established by May; allowing time in the process for public input, tentatively scheduled in July,but allowing staff sufficient time to provide information for the public to comment on; the importance of nail- ing down the calendar now as a guiding document while allowing flexibility to tweak items through the process; and how staff should be directed to proceed and make recommendations. City Manager Malinen spoke in support of prioritization allowing staff to meet those targets, however they're set; and working from the bottom up on those priority listings. City Manager Malinen advised that this step was really impor- tant, noting that the City Council had two (2) new Councilmembers not having previously weighed in on the current priority list, but noting that staff was seeking collective rankings to adjust priorities. Councilmember Johnson suggested that staff use last year's priorities for their ex- ercise on a zero or 10% reduced/increased levy to show what impacts would re- sult. Councilmember Willmus expressed his concern with the ranking methodology and categorizations uses. However, Councilmember Willmus advised that he didn't have a strong feeling on which budget process was used; and that he would gauge where he thought spending was too high or too low, no matter if a priority- based or line item budget was used. Mayor Roe advised that the methodology used could be a discussion item.