HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/02/1991 Council Minutes1
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COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION
CITY OF LINO LAKES
COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 2, 1991
Staff members present: Public Works Director, Don Volk; Finance
Director, Mary Vaske; Accountant, Paula Schloer; City
Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk - Treasurer Marilyn
Anderson.
The purpose of the work session is to prepare for the December 5,
1991 Budget Public Hearing.
Public notices have been properly published and there have been
some questions by telephone from residents. Residents have
received information by mail from the County. The information
contains estimated 1992 property taxes.
Mr. Schumacher said he planned to use the same format for the
public hearing as was used last year. He will be using the
overhead projector.
Mr. Schumacher noted that there will be a significant decrease in
state aids for 1992. He noted that this can be off set by either
reducing services or increasing taxes. Council Member Kuether
asked that all possible increases in fees be researched.
Ms. Schloer has prepared a budget document and this was delivered
to all Council Members. Some revisions were made after the
previous budget work sessions and the following changes were
noted:
Page -9- $1,000.00 for the Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau was
eliminated.
Page -10- Dollars were shifted to Planning and Economic
Development in the Consultants Budget.
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COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION DECEMBER 2, 1991
Council Member Kuether questioned the amounts budgeted for
Economic Development. It was explained that the Planner's
position was eliminated and the position of City Engineer was
created. $36,167.00 was budgeted for Economic Development and
$21,000.00 was budgeted for a secretary who would coordinate
planning activities with a consulting planner.
Council Member Kuether noted that $2,880.00 was added to the
Government Buildings budget for health insurance. Mr. Volk
explained that the part -time maintenance person is proposed to
become full -time. Health Insurance would be part of his benefit
package. Council Member Kuether noted that the City Council had
discussed contracting building maintenance. Mr. Volk said that
would not be his recommendation and explained that security for
all buildings was most important and it would be hard to control
under a contracted service.
Council Member Reinert noted the confusion regarding the increase
in the 1992 budget and the increase in the 1991 payable 1992 tax
levy. He asked that Mr. Schumacher take the time to thoroughly
discuss the difference between the two (2) figures with graphs
and overlays if necessary. Council Member Reinert felt that it
may be difficult for residents to understand that although the
budget may increase 10 %, taxes will not increase an equal amount
because the levy will not be increased.
Council Member Kuether noted that the Public Works Department is
over budget in the area of snow plowing. Mr. Volk explained that
$35,000.00 had been cut from this area of his budget. With the
unusual snowfall on Halloween and Thanksgiving, the reduced
budget was exceeded. He noted that he has offered to give the
worker's time off in lieu of overtime payment whenever possible.
Mr. Volk noted that the Halloween snowfall cost about $20,000.00
to remove. Council Member Reinert felt that this is a cost that
should be made public so that there is a better understanding of
where tax dollars are going. Mr. Volk noted that there will be
an item in the next Quad Paper and he also felt that it would
make a good newsletter item.
Mayor Bisel asked if it would be more economical to contract the
snow removal in storms of this magnitude. Mr. Volk explained
that there are people who do parking lots but not city streets.
He also noted that contracted persons do the work on their
schedule, not on a schedule produced by the City. There was
discussion regarding alternating snowplow routes with each storm.
Mr. Volk said this is done routinely, however, the routine cannot
be done backwards because the trucks are set up to make right
hand turns.
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COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION DECEMBER 2, 1991
Council Member Reinert noted that the City Council is considering
increasing the budget and the levy. However, taxes will not be
increasing. He asked that Mr. Schumacher explain this very
thoroughly to the audience at the public hearing. Mayor Bisel
asked that written material be available before the public
hearing so that the City Council can study it and ask questions
prior to the public hearing.
Council Member Reinert asked Mr. Schumacher to show the breakdown
in property taxes for the last five (5) years.
Mr. Schumacher noted that the City Council cannot look to new
taxes for additional revenue. He suggested that the City look
for new revenue sources by expanding services and programs and
those who use the services and programs will have to pay for them
through users fees.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 P.M.
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