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2000 Budget <br />August 1, 2000 <br />Page 10 <br /> <br />Another option for the City Council is simply to cut some expenditures and <br />one item that comes to mind in this regard is eliminating the sergeant's <br />request for a 4x4 type of vehicle and then funding $15,000 worth of mobile <br />command unit improvements for the van. This would save $23,000, but we <br />still wouldn't have the type of vehicle that the sergeants believe they need to <br />best carry out the duties of their position. (On the other hand, needed van <br />repairs could come out of reserves.) <br /> <br />Regarding personnel, certainly the street maintenance person is <br />questionable, or at least we could consider hiring this person at mid year. We <br />believe the other requests are necessary and moving Allan in the government <br />buildings budget to full time status will be a big benefit throughout City <br />Hall. We would plan to use Allan for some outside building maintenance <br />items that the street crew currently does and we may be able to use him a <br />little bit at the ice arena to help maintain that facility. We could possibly get <br />by without the street clerical second ¥~ time position, but this just creates a <br />larger workload here at City Hall and a department of the size and <br />complexity as our public works department, generally needs a full time <br />clerical position. <br /> <br />In regard to the tax levy, both the sample levy and the adopted 2000 levy are <br />attached. We have previously discussed the 2001 equipment certificate <br />situation and its relationship to the 2000 tax levy for equipment and the <br />aerial platform ladder truck. Clearly, staffs goal is to reduce our reliance on <br />equipment bonds and certificates. <br /> <br />Regarding the Lake Orono project, it should be noted that the last payment is <br />in 2001 and that this is only $17,631. The balance of the previous $100,000 <br />levy is being labeled as a street replacement line item. This program has not <br />yet been established by the City Council, but it is expected to be up and <br />running in the next two years and assessments to benefited property owners <br />will only pay between 1/3 and ¥~ of the project. City funds will be needed for <br />the remaining part of the program and these funds cannot come entirely from <br />reserves. If city reserves were the only source of funds for our share of the <br />program, then it would be a very short program and end after 2 or 3 projects. <br />It is estimated that this program will be ongoing and we would like to do <br />approximately $800,000 worth of street improvements every 2 or 3 years. In <br />order to fund the city's share, we need to begin building up some tax levy <br />monies. The approach of shifting the Lake Orono tax levy line item to the <br />street replacement program has been discussed during previous budget <br />meetings. <br /> <br />Also discussed by the City Council at past budget meetings is the <br />development fund and surface water management fund. The development <br /> <br /> <br />