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where we do not want to. He said another area of cost avoidance is teen pregnancy <br />prevention. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hopper said the theme she is hearing from all of Councilors priorities is <br />prevention to some extent. <br /> <br /> Ms. Baker said it could take time to set up a new process, to determine outcome <br />measurements and give agencies time to respond. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said a big threat to the City's budget is the cost of health care. He said <br />reducing this cost by 10% would help. Mr. Lynch said a major issue is reducing the <br />achievement gap. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell suggested that staff put together the ideas put forth and develop a <br />theme. He asked if Council would like to take an incentive approach. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch said he would like to see a focus on improving the graduation rate. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said she thinks one under served area is programs for children ages <br />nine and up. <br /> <br />Ms. Baker suggested adding school people to the agency review team. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he thinks the City could benefit from adopting a process for <br />agencies. He said he would like to look at outcomes, even for those things we are <br />mandated to fund. <br /> <br />Ms. Hamilton asked about the elderly population. <br /> <br /> Ms. Baker said that the Jefferson Area Board for Aging has good data available <br />on the elderly population. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would still prefer to focus more on kids. He said would like to <br />see actual numbers listed in Stepping Stones rather than just absolute data. <br /> <br />Ms. Baker said that information is available. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that the approach in the past has been to give a target amount <br />of money to the agency budget review team, and he asked for direction from Council <br />about how to do this in the future. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would support giving reviewed agencies the same increases <br />that City departments receive. <br /> <br />Dr. Brown asked how this would fit in with big increases in mandated services. <br /> <br />Mr. O'Connell said he would suggest separating those services out. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said one option would be for staff to put in the amount of funding after <br />the review is done. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said there are also issues of budget shortfalls and funding new <br />programs, noting that new programs have not been recommended for funding in the past. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peacock noted that agency increases were less because the exact budget <br />numbers were not known in the fall. <br /> <br /> Mr. Baker noted that the City and County have to work closely together on <br />funding. <br /> <br />Dr. Brown asked Councilors about focus areas. <br /> <br /> <br />