07/02/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JULY 2, 2002 service levels in certain areas will be delivered at a lesser levels than they are now. If this is to be the case, then language should be added to the Plan that recognizes these diminishing levels of service, i.e. lengthened snow removal periods, fewer road repairs, slower emergency response times, etc. The City should be forthright to communicate that under this Plan the tradeoff for lowering the tax rate to this extent may be a decline in the level of service delivered to property owners. It is important that these concerns be addressed and included in the final draft of the Plan so that intentions are clearly communicated. It must also be recognized that this is a financial plan, not a budget. The City budget will continue to be prepared annually, and current needs will continue to be presented to Council on an annual basis. While it is Council's intention to be fiscally responsible, it is possible the future budgetary needs may be greater than is outlined in the Plan, resulting in a tax rate higher than anticipated in the Plan. Likewise, lan will be updated each year and needs reassessed at the time of renewal. Staff is seeking Council direction concerning the Plan s further discussions relative to the final draft. City Administrator Waite Smith stated the public continued and the Charter Commission will be meeting. Councilmember Carlson stated she did no indicated she is concerned about the r being taken off. She stated the othe should also be included. on the draft Plan should be the status after tonight's dress the expense side of the Plan. She and that it is only based on levy limits relating to revenue levy limits continuing Finance Director Rolek stated sta • amend the Plan and balance it so there are not deficits with levy limitsn * limits continue that is another matter and that can be addressed in them: .e t Ie ter. A Plan that includes different scenarios should not be presented. A different situations happen the City will respond to them. There is not current informat n on the levy limits changing. Councilmember Carlson stated the City can also be faced with expenses that it does not anticipate. The process has been very informative but the City needs to look at where the money will be coming from. Mayor Bergeson stated he believes there needs to be more discussion before the majority of the Council feels the Plan has the right amount of increases. He suggested the possibility of including a contingency budget if the levy limits do stay the same. Finance Director Rolek stated he did look at that scenario and can look at it again. Councilmember Reinert arrived at the meeting at 6:05 p.m.