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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 23, 2022 Page 2 1 Motion carried 5-0. 2 3 IV. PUBLIC HEARING —NONE. 4 5 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF — NONE. 6 7 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 8 9 A. 2023 Budget & Levy Presentation. 10 11 Mayor Stille stated that this is a presentation of information the Council has already heard and 12 discussed in a public worksession. He noted that no action will be taken tonight as this is meant 13 to be an informational presentation for the public. 14 15 Finance Director Shelley Rueckert presented this item, noting that at the March 22, 2022 Work 16 Session, the City Council and staff reviewed the proposed 2023 debt levy. The debt levy 17 provides funding for 2023 debt service payments for the road improvement debt, lease revenue 18 debt (city buildings) and the tax abatement debt (parks and sidewalks). The proposed 2023 debt 19 levy was approved at the July 12, 2022 City Council Meeting. At the August 8, 2022 Work 20 Session, staff provided the City Council with information regarding an overall levy scenario and 21 a detailed 2023 General Fund Budget. Staff also proposed added levy support for the Fire 22 Department paramedic program that will allow the first responders to provided expanded 23 medical care prior to the arrival of an ambulance. Also discussed was capacity for employee 24 retention as deemed needed in 2023. 25 26 Ms. Rueckert explained that Council directed staff to incorporate the items discussed into the 27 2023 Budget and Levy. Council affirmed the adjustments to the various capital levies that are 28 consistent with the long-term capital plans. No increase in the Housing Redevelopment 29 Authority (HRA) levy was proposed for 2023. The levy proposed reflects the Work Session 30 discussions. The proposed 2023 overall levy is $8,687,425, which represents an increase of 31 $444,333 or a 5.39% increase compared to the 2022 overall levy. 32 33 Ms. Rueckert reviewed the next steps which include a public hearing on September 13, 2022 to 34 adopt the preliminary 2023 budget and property tax levy which will be finalized in December of 35 2022. 36 37 Mayor Stille thanked Ms. Rueckert for the excellent presentation. 38 39 Councilmember Webster acknowledged that costs are going up and that staff looks for every 40 opportunity to reduce costs. She stated that 71 percent of the costs are staff related as the City 41 prioritizes the value of a good team of staff. She referenced the increase in the Police coverage 42 rates and asked if some of the costs could be offset in the partnership to Lauderdale. 43 44 Ms. Rueckert replied that the contract fees were raised by $58,000 as those costs are shared 45 equally. 46