Laserfiche WebLink
Session 1781 <br />May 8, 2000 <br /> <br />Mayor Adams stated that Mr. Ollendorff developed a very cautious budget this next year <br />because of the uncertain numbers that are being generated. <br /> <br />Mr. Lieberman stated that the federal Congress had authorized, back in 1997, a three year <br />study of e-commerce by an interim committee. They had many brains involved on this <br />special committee and they have submitted their report to Congress this past month. The <br />report said that they were at a complete deadlock as to what solutions there might be. <br />There was no recommendation made to Congress. He does not see a resolution being <br />made to this problem in the near future. He agrees with Mr. Schoomer's suggestion for <br />careful planning and budgeting, because this is not going to get corrected very quickly. <br /> <br />Mayor Adams believes that we may see a shift in the e-commerce problem, because some <br />of the new players that are getting involved are big business and they are aware of the <br />problem. But not anytime soon. <br /> <br />Mr. Munkel is concerned about the same problems, but he believes that we should be <br />careful to jump to the conclusion that the problem is being caused by these problems. He <br />would like to ask the City Manager to draft a letter to the St. Louis County Municipal <br />League requesting a study as to why our sales tax revenue is down. With their response <br />we should have facts that will be helpful as we deal, plan and budget for next year and in <br />the near future. <br /> <br />Elsie Glickert, 6712 Etzel, stated that this is a real shock and should be shared with all the <br />communities in the sales tax pool. She believes that we should put this information in our <br />newsletters and newspapers to encourage people to shop in their communities. Mayor <br />Adams stated that new revenue sources in some A cities will also go into the pool. It is not <br />like it was ten years ago. Simply shopping more in a pool city will not increase our sales <br />taxes, there are many other parameters and formulas that are used. Ms. Glickert really <br />feels, no matter how complicated, the citizens should know about it. She wanted to find <br />out if anyone had ever studied revenue sharing with Clayton. Mayor Adams said that no <br />one had considered this. <br /> <br />The motion carried unanimously. <br /> <br />CITIZEN COMMENTS: <br /> <br />Arthur Wells, 8332 Cornell Ave., wished to inquire about the imminent Washington <br />University buyout in University City. He is concerned about what this type of sale will do to <br />the tax base of our schools. He wants to know how the City is going to replace the money <br />that we will be losing. He stated that his Councilmembers did not return his phone calls. <br />He thinks that the elected officials should be more responsible to the individuals that pay <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br /> <br />