2004-12-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Metadata

Thumbnails

Annotations

Mr. Lynch said that if a car tax increase is viable, it could amount to $500,000 more in income. He said we could then decide on the real estate tax rate. On motion by Mr. Caravati, seconded by Mr. Lynch, guideline #1 was amended to add looking at a two cent real estate tax decrease and to ask staff to study increasing the personal property tax by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch. Noes: Mr. Schilling. Regarding guideline #2, Mr. Schilling said he would rather use some cap other than available revenue, such as the CPI, and he said that a benchmark should be put in place. Dr. Brown asked how decreasing state funds (such as Comprehensive Services Act funds) would be factored in. Mr. Schilling suggested that in the next legislative packet that the City ask that mandated items be removed. He said we need to start somewhere. Mr. Caravati pointed out that the City's legislative packets have included that request for the past several years. Mr. Caravati asked that staff provide a listing of mandated services. Mr. Lynch said he is not interested in changing guideline #2 and feels that #1 drives where the budget will be. Regarding guideline #4, Mr. Schilling said that last year some School Board members said they should have a needs based budget and he feels it is better and more responsible budgeting to ask for what is needed. Mr. Schilling said that the recent audit conducted on the Schools said they need to look at a curriculum driven budget. He said we should tell the School Board to tell us what they need and we can then decide on the funding. Mr. Lynch said he understands the Schools are doing a needs based budget and it is likely to be more than 40% of new revenues. Dr. Brown said that the 40% gives some Council guidance and a sense of guidelines for the Schools. Ms. Hamilton said that the audit noted that we have very low student/teacher ratios and that we have given the Schools strong support over the years, but are not getting results. She said the audit pointed to a certain amount of bloat in the central office. She said we might have done them more favors if we made them be more disciplined. She said she is willing to revisit the 40% policy. Mr. Lynch asked if we should make it "not to exceed 40%," and look at the 40% as a ceiling, not a target. Ms. Hamilton said she is willing to say allocating no more than 40%. Mr. Schilling said we never know what 40% is. He said when the real estate market levels off it may be 40 % of zero. He said that if we put a cap we should put a percentage increase over previous years. Dr. Brown said this guideline is part of how the public knows Council's commitment to the Schools. He noted that the guideline says up to 40% and suggested keeping it the same this year. Mr. Caravati noted that 40% this year is about half of what it has been in the past. He expressed concern that the audit recommendations have not been vetted with the schools or public, and that they should be implemented over time. He said he is fine with saying no more than or up to 40%.