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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Lastly, the City's workforce is also moving demographically towards a situation where most <br /> employees either have a long tenure with the City and will stay until retirement (most have ten <br /> years or less) or only stay a few years before moving on for better salaries, benefits, and/or work <br /> environment. The lack of a middle cadre of employees with the institutional knowledge, <br /> experience, and commitment to replace our current long-term employees jeopardizes the City's <br /> future ability to meet its core missions of protecting the community's health, safety, and welfare <br /> by providing efficient and effective services for citizens and a safe workplace for its employees. <br /> Failure to make regular adjustments to the pay scale to account for higher costs of living <br /> compounds over time and places the City at an ever increasing competitive disadvantage to <br /> recruit and retain top talent from the labor pool. Having competitive salaries, benefits, staffing <br /> structures, equipment, and work environment will be critical to developing this group of future <br /> leaders. <br /> <br /> Considering that a $0.01 increase in the tax rate amounts to a grand total of $6.86 more in the <br /> annual taxes paid by the average residential property, it becomes clear that taxes will have to be <br /> raised a substantial amount very quickly or a large amount of debt issued in order to pay for <br /> catastrophic failures in equipment, facilities, or staffing. Thoughtful and deliberate consideration <br /> should be given by the City Council, together with city staff, to the development and <br /> commitment to a tax and debt strategy to meet these future demands. <br /> <br /> City government is the form of government that has the widest ranging impact on the daily lives <br /> of our citizens. Meeting the fundamental health, safety, and welfare needs of our citizens is <br /> essential to a progressive and successful community and as presented, this budget will ensure the <br /> safety of our citizens, enhance their quality of life while providing an environment for successful <br /> economic development. <br /> <br /> I appreciate the efforts of staff during the preparation of the proposed budget under another year <br /> of difficult fiscal circumstances. In addition, I wish to extend my thanks to the City Council and <br /> Council's willingness to take the time to understand each department's operations. Such <br /> understanding provides context and background to better understand the budget and also <br /> enlightens staff's understanding of Council's priorities. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 10 <br />