V Amundsen Data Request 2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Good Evening Nyle, Could you please clarify a few questions. At the Dec. 13th City Council meeting, you spoke at your opening comments regarding the Charter Language Ordinance agenda item, about MV's rank on spending compared to other MN cities. Could you please share your souce(s) for those comments. Office of the State Auditor In addition, you stated that MV was "prevented" from hiring due to the Levy Cap. I do not believe anything in the charter language prevents the council from hiring. While there is no direct language anywhere in the charter specific to hiring of any staff, the levy cap, at its current level prevents the City from hiring without deficit spending, long term that is not fiscally responsible. The budget is approved each year, and the council can choose to spend the budget as they see fit. The levy does not as you state prevent any hiring, as I understand. Certainly there are limited funds, and decision are made as to what priorities take precidence. The General Fund expenditures have very little discretionary spending, 62% is personnel with most of the employees covered by union agreements, 21% is contractual services — SBM FD, Attorney, Engineer, etc, 2% is debt service, 4% is materials & supplies, 1% Fire equipment, and 4% transfer to Community Center for operations, 4% to Vehicle and Equipment fund for equipment purchases, 1% to the EDA, and 1% to Special Projects. In addition, Council member Hull has been commenting considerably on Social Media platforms about the need for increased police hiring. Two questions: 1) Has the council discussed the desire to hire more police officers? If so, at which meeting(s)? 2) Has the council specified that the increased revenue from increasing the tax levy limit been designated in any way toward police, as Hull seems to be implying on his social media comments,? If so, when was this discussed specifically (dates)? Thank you. Valerie Amundsen