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Mounds View City Council November 25, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 10 <br />• <br />Finance Director Hansen indicated it would be fairly close <br />C. Proposal fora 3% Reduction in a112003 General Fund Budgets <br />Finance Director Hansen indicated Council had asked each department to consider a three <br />percent budget reduction. He then said that all departments have done that and provided <br />memorandums. He further explained that, in all cases, a three percent reduction would be cutting <br />into Staff or something that directly affects the quality of service provided to the citizens and, <br />with looking at federal mandates that will increase duties in the coming year and taking on new <br />tasks would mean taking away from existing tasks that would mean a further reduction would <br />produce a further decline in the quality of service. <br />Council Member Stigney commented that since it seems the three percent would not work Staff <br />should look at a one percent reduction. He then suggested that Staff travel, training and <br />conferences could be reduced from $9,440. <br />Council Member Thomas clarified that the figure is $6,700.00 not $9,440.00, which is a <br />reduction from the previous budget. <br />Mayor Sonterre noted Staff was asked to analyze a three percent reduction not two percent or one <br />percent. <br />Council Member Stigney commented that three percent would not work and he is suggesting <br />looking at one percent. He also commented that he has a concern with the carryover money that <br />the City always has but the money is not used to offset additional taxes it goes into the special <br />project fund and he is concerned with that method of transferring money. <br />Finance Director Hansen indicated the 2003 budget would not have a carryover. <br />Council Member Stigney indicated he was talking about the carryover from 2002. <br />Finance Director Hansen indicated the City would need that money to offset the promised state <br />aid that may not be delivered as everything he has heard seems to say that the City will not get <br />the promised aid. <br />Council Member Stigney said he felt that Staff could do a little more to the budget such as <br />cutting national conferences and other memberships. He then said he would behard-pressed to <br />see that Staff could not trim one percent off the budget. <br />D. Utility Rate Study <br />Finance Director Hansen reviewed the proposed utility rate increase information indicating that <br />the fee for a single resident using 6,000 gallons per quarter would increase 3.52% and the fee for <br />