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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />NOVEMBER 27, 1991 <br />The Fire Chief pointed out that last year the Fire <br />Department's budget was $107,000 and the Department <br />spent $123,000. This year the budget is being cut to <br />$109,000. The Fire Chief stated that the Department's <br />budget has been cut more dollars than anywhere else. <br />The City Administrator replied that with the exception <br />of the Sheriff's contract which the City is locked <br />into, the Fire Department's budget request contained <br />the greatest increase of any other area. <br />Blesener pointed out that the two major cuts to the <br />Fire Department's budget is $10,000 from the City's <br />contribution to the pension fund and $10,000 in <br />additional compensation. <br />The Fire Chief stated that while the increase looks <br />large at first glance, you have to compare the bottom <br />line to what was actually spent by the Fire <br />Department. The Chief pointed out that the funds spent <br />in excess of the budget were funded through the Fire <br />Department's charitable gambling revenues. The Chief <br />described these items which include additional <br />transmitters, truck refurbishing, a computer system, <br />etc. <br />Blesener pointed out that a lot of these items are <br />capital improvement items, and the Fire Department's as <br />well as other department capital improvement items will <br />be put on a list and, hopefully, funding sources will <br />be found for these items. <br />Scalze pointed out that while charities cannot make <br />donations to one another, a charity can donate to the <br />City, for example, for an item on the Fire Department's <br />capital improvement list. <br />LaValle agreed, and pointed out that donations must be <br />used to relieve taxpayer burden. <br />Blesener reported that he did not believe that City <br />reserves should be used to make up the budget deficit. <br />Blesener pointed out that this position is supported by <br />the City's accountant. Blesener stated that the City <br />needs to maintain a certain amount in reserves to carry <br />the City for the first six months of each year, before <br />it gets its first installment of property taxes. Also, <br />the use of reserves will decrease the City's interest <br />revenue over the long run. <br />Scalze also pointed out that the developer deposit <br />situation needs to be resolved as well, and these funds <br />will probably come from reserves. <br />Page 9 <br />