2004-03-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Wednesday, March 24, 2004 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Budget Work Session BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - March 24, 2004 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Schilling. Mr. Caravati said he is not optimistic that a State b udget will have passed by July st 1 and he feels staff should begin to prepare a contingency plan if one is not adopted. Ms. Richards commended staff for answers to Councilors' budget questions, but said she would like to declare a moratorium on future qu estions unless questions arise out of tonight's work session to give staff time to prepare a contingency plan as suggested by Mr. Caravati. Mr. Lynch said he appreciates the spirit of Ms. Richards request, but does not want to prohibit future questions. Mr. O'Connell said the ten year cost estimate for cleanup of the Landfill has been $14 million, but after meeting with EPA, that amount could increase. He said there not be enough money in the budget to cover the cost. Mr. O'Connell said Council may wa nt to consider maintaining a reserve because of the potential of further cuts from the State. Mr. O'Connell reminded Council that if the real estate tax rate is reduced it will impact this year's budget as well as next year because it applies to the calen dar year. He said the General Assembly has allowed an increase in the asset amount for tax relief up to $195,000. He said the limit is now $100,000 and any increase in the asset amount over that is not included in the budget. Mr. O'Connell said that Cou ncil's reserve has increased to $98,987 due to revisions in the budget. Referring to the $15,000 the Schools will provide to the Communications Department next year, Mr. Schilling asked to what extent this reflects the actual cost to the Communications D epartment for work they do for the Schools. Mr. O'Connell said he feels the amount is pretty close to the actual cost, and covers mostly print material, articles in City Notes and press releases. Councilors said they are fine with the changes to the re serve listed by Mr. O'Connell. Mr. O'Connell recommended that Council proceed in three steps during the work session, suggesting any revenue changes, expenditure reductions and expenditure additions they would like to consider, and then coming back and i nformally voting on whether to approve those changes. Mr. Caravati said he does not mind going through the process suggested by Mr. O'Connell, but said he would like to move that Council not act on the reserve funds until the State budget is passed. Ms . Richards said that is a sound idea, but said the reserve is only a token amount of money.