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1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />financial independence and integrity during adverse economic conditions. Using <br />reserves to pay for operating costs would be a change in this policy of building up the <br />General Fund reserve requirement. <br />Mr. Bergeson stated that he was concerned that, to ease an angry public, the Council, <br />is back -peddling by planning to use reserves to pay for operating costs, when other <br />taxing jurisdictions, for example, the school district, are not doing anything to cut <br />back their spending. He was also concerned that it would be fiscally irresponsible to <br />use reserve spending every year. <br />Ms. Kuether stated that she felt that the City's bubble is ready to burst. Mayor <br />Reinert asked in what areas? Mr. Schumacher stated that Economic Development has <br />increased the 1994 budget from 1993 by over $100,000.00, two new police officers <br />could eventually add approximately another $100,000.00 to an already stressed <br />budget. Ms. Kuether stated that the City must start looking at areas in the budget <br />that could be paid for by other sources, for example, road overlays. She felt that <br />taxes should not be paying for this type of expenditure and that staff should address <br />this issue to the Charter Commission, making them aware of the current situation. <br />Mr. Schumacher stated that he and Tom DeWolfe, Superintendent of Streets, would <br />be going to the next Charter meeting to address this issue. <br />Mr. Schumacher paraphrased some of the items included in the 1995 recommended <br />budget based on the new request sheet. <br />Two new fully equipped squads would be purchased in 1995 at a purchase price of <br />$35,010.00. Chief Pecchia stated that the price of a 1995 squad has increased <br />$2,000 over the price of a 1994 squad and that there are no 1994's left to purchase <br />at the lower cost. Mayor Reinert asked if the City could go with a different make to <br />save on cost. Chief Pecchia stated that the Ford products suspension was sub- <br />standard to the Chevrolet product and that he preferred the Chevrolet product. He <br />also thought that Hennepin Co. was going to re -bid. <br />Mayor Reinert asked Chief Pecchia what his feelings were about hiring one patrol <br />officer in March of 1995. Chief Pecchia stressed that for officer safety reasons and <br />to achieve 24 hour coverage with two officers on duty, the City would need to hire <br />three officers in 1995. Currently, there is only one patrol officer on duty after 3 A.M. <br />Chief Pecchia stated that he understood the budget shortfalls for 1995 and stated <br />that instead of one officer hired in March, he would prefer two officers to be hired, <br />one in June and one in September. Mayor Reinert stressed that by hiring two officers <br />on different dates in 1995, that in 1996, there would be a full years cost for these <br />two officers. Mayor Reinert also stressed that to survive, the City needs more <br />revenues to help pay for these added costs and that for budget year 1996, he would <br />like to see Chief Pecchia work on bringing the Centerville contract back to the City of <br />Lino Lakes. <br />Page 2 <br />251 <br />J <br />