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Special City Council Meetrng <br />July 27, 2004 <br />Page 14 <br />Councilman Wilson said he talked to one town, Denison, and their library <br />budget was $521,000.00 and they are charging their county patrons $40.00. <br />Ms. McAnally indicated that they get county participation and don't have as <br />much circulation. She did mention that outreach to adults and children would <br />have to be cut, also. <br />Councilman Bell asked if the City Council would be the ones who made the <br />decision to have the County participate. Mayor Fendley said that would need <br />to be addressed. Councilman Bell agreed. <br />Anna Wims, who works for the Environmental Services of the Utilities <br />Department, said she had heard that the wages and benefits at the City had <br />been compared to industry. She indicated that she came from industry, Earth <br />Grains, and she only paid $30.00 a month for health insurance for herself, her <br />spouse and her children. She said she made considerably more money then, <br />also. She reminded them of the survey which they have which said that the <br />employees were considerably underpaid. She said the reason she and others <br />work for the City of Paris is the benefits and if they cut the benefits, they <br />should at least give the employees the pay they deserve. She also stated that if <br />they continued to take money out of the employees' pockets, the employees <br />would not be able to afford working for the City of Paris. She continued that the <br />employees needed to get their fair share and not be expected to take care of the <br />whole problem. <br />Mike Ford of the Paris Police Department wanted to clarify that a person could <br />still retire with twenty (20) years of service but would not be able to get <br />insurance. Councilman Bell said they were discussing the Rule of 80 but it had <br />not been decided yet, although it is the recommendation. He also asked about <br />the 2 to 1 match being changed to a 1 to 1 match. Councilman Bell said that is <br />in the proposed budget. Mr. Ford asked if that was just to save money. <br />Mr. Ford said he had been with City for fourteen (14) years and the one thing <br />that kept him here was the 2 to 1 match. He informed the Council that if they <br />take that away, they will lose many good police officers. He said the match at <br />