2009-06-01 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Price stated that the economy is down and the City gets the majority of its money from sales tax, not property tax. This causes the City to be in a deficit. He said he is from the working class and would never support fooling around with anyone’s pension who is already retired. On health insurance, he states it is a necessity, not a luxury. He said that people say there is no deductible and this is not true. He heard talk of a party for the Mayor and said if that is in the budget it is gone. Mr. Price stated that the City has lain off employees and he represents the Third Ward which needs more services. They have the most police calls and the most calls for inspections. Mr. Price stated the City is a not-for-profit organization and its main function is to render a service. He said that comparing the City to a Fortune 500 company is nonsense. Ms. Ricci called for a Point of Order. Mr. Price called for the Question. The Council voted to continue with the discussion. Mr. Crow thanked everyone for attending. He stated that speakers spoke of the rental registration pool and said that it was a new item for the City and the City will be working with the Community Development Department to determine the appropriate parameters for which properties will be included. Mr. Crow stated the Council’s role is a policy making basis that we believe this is an appropriate course of action. The staff will come back with a protocol they would like to implement in order to be fair to all. Mr. Crow stated in addressing the use of the Economic Sales Tax he has been in conversations with his colleagues over the past several weeks. She said that since he has been on the Council, twenty-five percent of every meeting has been budget related. Mr. Crow said as the Council moves with the Economic Sales Tax, he thinks it is unanimous that this is not their first choice but it is something that is allowed. Mr. Crow said that when an economy is working through the bottom part of its cycle, it is an opportunity for us to balance our budget for a short term. He made a commitment to the citizens, if additional unexpected funds come in; the first place he would like to see them go back to is the replacement of the Economic Development Sales Tax. Mr. Crow told the Wilson property owners that they have his full support for a buy-out. He felt they were intertwined, as the budget had to be balanced first in order to be able to use money from the reserve for the buy-out, leaving the Reserves at twenty-two percent where the Council’s requirement is seventeen percent. Mr. Crow stated that just because we pass the Budget/Wilson buy-out tonight doesn’t mean the Council will not continue to look for ways to increase the revenue or look at ways to cut the cost. He stated that the Council spends one in four meetings on the budget, so this is a continuing process. Mr. Crow stated this was Draft #4 for him so he did not feel like he was rushed in this process. He commended Ms. Watson on doing a very good job in moving the City forward. Mr. Crow stated that 38 percent of municipalities are dipping into their reserves right now. Mr. Wagner stated the resolution tonight intertwines three things that must all be passed: balancing the budget, coming through with the Wilson Ave. program and putting on the ballot the additional quarter-cent sales tax. He agreed with Mr. Crow, the Council can amend the budget any time through out the year and we intend to do it with additional revenue enhancements or expenditure cuts. He