09-10-1998 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special City Council Minutes September 10, 1998 Page 2 A great deal of discussion took place regarding proposed expenditures for 1999, and these figures were compared to the 1997 actuals and the 1998 adopted budget. Personnel changes were reviewed and it was noted the only staff additions proposed for 1999 are the part time Senior Citizen help, the part time Recreation programming help, and the Police records clerk that was recently authorized. The Economic Development assistant is proposed to be financed outside of the General Fund and will be the responsibility of the EDA and HRA. General discussion took place regarding Park and Recreation needs, the expansion of the Police Department, the desire to do the codification program in 1999, and 1999 equipment requests that can either be delayed or purchased in 1998. The capital outlay page was distributed and reviewed. The City Council discussed other budget balancing possibilities including: Reducing the Council Contingency Fund even further by way of providing less than 3 percent cost of living increases to employees Shifting all of the Economic Development Director's wages out of the General Fund and into the EDA/HRA budgets Not hiring any new employees in 1999 Reducing the Development Fund tax levy and shitting these funds to the general city budget Reducing the Lake Orono tax levy and shifting these funds to the general city budget Assessing out the city seal coating project and therefore, taking this expenditure out of the budget Increasing fees for services Using additional reserves as revenues Delaying some equipment purchases which would reduce the equipment certificate levy and allow some more tax revenues to be moved into the general city budget Although this would not help in 1999, a gas utility franchise fee similar to the one in Ramsey, North St. Paul, and Moundsview was discussed. The Council noted that this fee still comes from the citizens and in many respects could be considered a tax. No Council support was indicated for a franchise fee approach to increasing revenues. The City Administrator reviewed action needed by the City Council on September 14, 1998. It was the consensus of the City Council to present the budget on 9/14/98 showing the $143,900 budget gap and the tax levy resolution should include the August 31 amount, plus $150,000 of additional tax revenue. Other Business 4.1. Pool Update The City Administrator distributed a September 9 letter which authorized the architect to proceed with the 3D Rendering. The amount of the rendering is $2,200. The rendering is needed in order to promote the pool component of the bond referendum.