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4liounds View City Council Page Five <br /> egular Meeting November 12, 1991 <br /> Mr. Bill Werner, Jr. , 2442 Sherwood Road, works with the issues of budget <br /> cuts and state mandates every day as he works as a newspaper reporter and is <br /> very aware of the financial crunch that cities are feeling. Mr. Werner <br /> stated he is well aware of all of the politicking being done and can <br /> appreciate the impacts these mandates have on the city's budgets . Mr. Werner <br /> stated he feels the Legislature did these things to force cost effectiveness <br /> and efficiency on the local level. Mr. Werner stated that the City <br /> Administrator's presentation was very good. Mr. Werner asked the City <br /> Council to resist the temptation to go out and find sources of alternative <br /> revenues . <br /> Mr. Werner further stated that he had been employed at businesses where in <br /> time of budget problems the personnel had received a 10% cut in salary. Mr. <br /> Werner stated he has no one to tax, therefore, he must cut his budget. <br /> Mr. Werner suggested a possible solution: to have NSP maintain the City's <br /> street lights in turn for a reduction in street lighting costs . Mr. Werner <br /> stated the City would have to tighten their belts because the citizens are <br /> tightening theirs . Mr. Werner also stated that the legislature is forcing <br /> cities to be more cost effective. <br /> Mayor Linke stated that Mounds View has always been a cost effective City <br /> and yet has never been rewarded for being cost effective. The City has 34 <br /> 1 time employees with 15 of those employees being police officers . <br /> pared to other cities of its size in population and area, Mounds View <br /> employs 50% less than others do. Mayor Linke described the employee body of <br /> the City of Mounds View as a "mean, lean, fighting machine. " Mayor Linke <br /> stated that when the City of Mounds View had the opportunity to raise taxes <br /> to build a cushion, the City chose not to do so. Mayor Linke stated that <br /> the City of Mounds View does not have a cushion like neighboring cities . <br /> Mayor Linke states that the City is being penalized for being frugal in the <br /> past. <br /> Mr. Werner stated he appreciated the honesty of the staff and council and he <br /> has felt the City has been cost effective and it is not fair to be penalized <br /> for having thlo—q a-l-irty. Mr. Werner steted that the have to cut an <br /> extra foot or two for the benefit of the taxpayer. The "chickens will come <br /> home to roost between St. Paul and the cities " when the residents of this <br /> City have been pinched enough because of political games in St. Paul and, at <br /> some point, will tell the legislators to stop playing games . <br /> Ray Ohlenkamp, 7809 Long Lake Road, appreciated the presentation given in <br /> black and white and being very easy to understand. Mr. Ohlenkamp agreed that <br /> it is unfortunate about .the cuts and that Mounds View is a good city. Mr. <br /> Ohlenkamp was very concerri'ed about the elderly taxpayers, who are on a fixed <br /> income, and their bility-to•pay one more bill. These elderly people have <br /> no cushion at all. Someway, somewhere this needs to stop. Mr. Ohlenkamp <br /> stated that the City has to separate its wants from needs . In the past, he <br /> ha seen the City spend money in some ways he feels might be "wants " instead <br /> o eeds " . The City needs to reverse this and decide what are clearly <br /> ne s and what are wants . <br />