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2 <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Schilling about reductions in the Police <br />Department, Mr. O'Connell said that all City departments were asked to come up with <br />reduction strategies. <br /> <br /> Police Chief Tim Longo said that all departments were asked to come up with <br />5%, 10% and 15% reductions and that services be prioritized. He said he offered <br />positions that are open due to attribution and reorganized to achieve efficiencies. <br /> <br />Mr. Schilling asked where the dollar amount falls along the projection. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch noted that the reduction was made in the possible full head count of <br />the force which we have never been at. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that the goal was to reduce services that have the least impact <br />on the public. Mr. O'Connell said that in addition to recommending elimination of <br />commercial dumpster collection, staff will be coming back to Council with new recycling <br />recommendations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked about crosswalks, and Ms. Judith Mueller, Director of Public <br />Works, said the City will continue to stripe crosswalks, but it will get more difficult with <br />reduced funding. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that with vacancies and strict management the thinking is that <br />$1 million can be saved in the Fire Department. He said the proposal is to target that <br />amount of money and manage to it. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling asked if part of the savings in the Fire Department will be as a result <br />of not having to pay for a Fire Chief for awhile after the current Chief retires. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that is true in part, but he said the City is exploring with the <br />County providing joint fire services and it is possible that the position will not be filled. <br /> Mr. Lynch asked about the retirement increase, and Mr. O'Connell said that the <br />City has not been budgeting the retiree health care in the retirement fund, and will be <br />required to report future liability. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked what is driving the explosive increase in health insurance <br />claims, and Mr. O'Connell said this happening in all businesses. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if Mr. Lynch's question is are there policy issues that the City <br />could enact to reduce the cost of claims, and Mr. Lynch said yes. <br /> <br />Dr. Brown said that is a good question, but is not a budget issue. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch expressed concerned about calculating the future liability based on the <br />current level. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks a rent and tax relief deferral option is something we <br />should explore because it will be cheaper to do. He said that in the existing policy the <br />income side is high and the asset limit is low and he thinks it could be made more fair. <br />He said a deferral program would keep people from being forced out of their homes. <br /> <br />Mr. Caravati noted that people can do a reverse mortgage. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch said we could finance the first few years. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lee Richards, Commissioner of the Revenue, pointed out that the City did a <br />deferral program in the mid 1980's and no one applied for it. <br /> <br /> Ms. Shirley Cauley, Deputy Treasurer for Administration, said that a survey was <br />done of other communities in Virginia and it was found that there is very little interest in <br />a deferral program because people do not want to leave taxes to their heirs. <br /> <br /> <br />