05 Approval of Official Record of Council

Home Browse Search

and sewer fund. Mayor Freelen asked if there is a figure in the proposed budget that explained increase of fuel cost and Mr. Carruth said the increase was listed under each department. He also said the revised budget was adjusted down .25 cents. Council Member Pickle asked where the cuts could be made if they looked at a.52 cent budget. Mr. Carruth's response was COLA. Council Member Pickle did not like that idea. Council Member Pickle handed out a spread sheet that he prepared with the .52 cent tax rate and discussed it with the Council. Council Member Baird stated that on October 8, 2007, the council transferred 1.25 million dollars to the capital projects fund to establish a equipment replacement fund. He also there was a transfer of about $600,000.00 to purchase capital items and pay off some lease payments. Council Member Biard said that was not done. He stated that he appreciated the departments not spending all their budget, as long as the jobs were getting done. A motion to let Don Wilson approach the council was made by Council Member Kear and seconded by Council Member Brown. Motion carried, 5 ayes - 2 nays, with Council Members Strathern and Biard casting the dissenting votes. Don Wilson explained the capital funds decisions that were made by the 2007-2008 Council Members and expressed his concerns about the outstanding leases. Council also discussed the police department automobile fund, grant fund, and auto upkeep. Council Member Pickle directed the City Manager to prepare and bring back a budget based on a rate of.52 cents. Council Member Biard stated at this time he was in favor of a.52 cents, no re-classifications, that 1.2 million needed to be transferred over, that all of the capital equipment on lease payments pulled out and cash purchase them. He also asked that to review the pay scale in October or November. Council Member Brown stated he agreed with Council Member Biard. Council Member McCarthy said that he was in favor of COLA for lower paid level employees. Mayor Freelen agreed with Council Member McCarthy. He also said he did not want to cut the City short by budgeting figures at .52 cents. Council Member McCarthy stated a budget at .53 cents is what he wanted to move toward. Council Member Strathern stated he wanted the budget at .52 cents, to see productivity improvements, and increased effectiveness in the managers. He said they needed to hold the City Manager responsible, but did not need to tell him how to manage the nickels and dimes. Council Member McCarthy said the Council needs to give the City Manager direction on where the Council wants to be in the future. City Manager Kevin Carruth asked what the censuses was of the Council on the budget with regard to the tax rate. Council Members Strathern, Pickle, Brown and Biard agreed on a.52 cent tax rate. Mayor Freelen asked how much time it would take to prepare a.52 cent budget. Kevin Carruth . p00003