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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Does our sales tax rate mean a decline in businesses? What are the City’s longer <br />term economic plan? <br /> <br /> Has the decline in revenue come from a decline of businesses? <br />Largest sales tax comes from the pooled cities. <br /> <br /> When did the City get the cell phone settlement and has it been spent? <br />Money remains in the Reserved Fund. <br /> <br /> Can the City function in a deficit? <br />The City would use reserves for the deficit. Many cities do this. U.City has <br />previously reduced staff by 12% and delayed capital projects as some cities are just <br />now experiencing. <br /> <br /> What is the impact of spending money out of reserves? <br />Few years ago the City had a very low Reserve Fund but now we have a decent <br />fund balance. There is a certain level you can’t go below, as it is needed for cash <br />flow. <br /> <br /> Does the Charter say we have to have reserves? <br />The City Council determines how much reserves they would like to maintain. <br /> <br /> Solid waste fund, how much has been generated from delinquencies? <br />$600,000 which went into the General fund. <br /> <br /> Has recycling brought in revenue? <br />It has reduced cost by lowering extra dumping fees. Recycling is also presently in a <br />downturn, so it only generates a small amount of revenue. <br /> <br /> Can U.City combine with other municipalities for services? <br />U.City presently buys items as salt from a consortium of four cities. Presently U. <br />City is looking into combining fire department services in some way with Richmond <br />Heights, Maplewood, and Clayton. The City is also looking into combining dispatch <br />services. <br /> <br /> Are we going forward with a deficit budget? <br />Council and staff will be working together to reduce it. <br /> <br /> It looks like FY09 should have a surplus. <br />Tax revenue has not come in as originally projected. <br /> <br /> What are the cuts proposed and what ways the City is looking at and in what ways <br />is the City looking at to increase revenues? <br />There is a large list at the moment for the Council to review. <br /> <br /> What is the difference between an undesignated fund balance and reserved fund <br />balance? <br />A reserved fund is money set aside for specific purposes. <br /> <br /> Is reserve and fund balance the same? <br />Yes <br /> <br /> Since health insurance is1.5 million dollars of the City’s budget is this going to be <br />looked at? <br /> <br /> Are benefits the same between police and fire and city staff? <br />Police and Fire have a different pension plan but the rest of the benefits are the <br />same. <br /> <br /> How would additional property tax of 20 cents help generate the City revenue? A <br />small property tax increase would not cost the residents that much and would <br />generate a good revenue for the City. <br /> <br />