05/09/05 Budget Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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Budget Study Session May 9, 2005 contributions that citizens are making in the process and in honoring that, it is our duty to set aside some time for listening.” She mentioned her past experience before joining the Council, pointing out there was no opportunity for one-on-one questioning of the Director of Finance, Mr. Norfleet. She asserted the need to think about that. Councilmember Sharpe said he did not disagree with citizen’s time to question at the end of the session, but asked what kind of time limit, if any, would be placed on their questions. Mayor Adams advised the length of question time is normally five minutes. Then Mayor Adams said citizens can still telephone or e-mail the City Manager to ask questions; presence at the meeting does not preclude them from posing questions at other times and in other ways. Ms. Welsch said she did not suggest this for presentations, she suggested it for asking specific questions about understanding these numbers. It is a difficult document to digest and it helps to ask specific questions when the City Manager and the Director of Finance are present. This should not be a time for presentations on the budget that should come at the Public Hearings and we have two scheduled. She suggested three to five minutes is probably fine, but said she had no sense of the time. Mr. Sharpe added that sometimes individuals wanted to say things that they felt were so pertinent that they want the entire Council to hear their comments and not just limit them to the City Manager. Mr. Wagner said that five minutes is sufficient to ask questions but they should be allowed an additional few minutes for “follow-up” after questions are answered, because they might not understand the answer. Mayor Adams asked citizens who want to speak to fill out request forms. Ms. Colquitt then asked if it had been decided to extend the meeting for another hour, and Mayor Adams suggested trying an additional half-hour, and if more time was needed, they could go on. Mr. Wagner suggested fifteen minutes instead of thirty minutes, with the same proviso. Mr. Ollendorff said there were extra Budget Books at the back of the Chambers. He then suggested that the Council begin with the expenditure budgets first, because last year most of the meeting was spent discussing taxes, leaving little time for the expenditures. First Item – C-3 – Legislative Services He explained that in each department budget, the first line item is “pay” or salaries. What is shown in this Budget is the current compensation of all employees plus two and one-half per cent cost-of-living adjustment. This particular section includes salaries for the City Council, the full-time staff, City Clerk. Council has received detailed information which they will discuss in executive session, dealing with individuals and their salaries. There is some money in this Budget for individual’s pay increases. The only detail he can provide now is that it includes two and one-half percent cost-of-living, and that is subject to Council approval. The only other comment is that at the end of each budget, is a list of personnel. These Page 2