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48O <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton noted that budget guideline #9 refers to old Council priorities <br />adopted at Council's 2004 retreat. She said Council needs to discuss the deferred <br />maintenance issue and reinvesting in neighborhood and infrastructure which is not <br />reflected in the proposed guidelines. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch agreed that we need to focus more on maintaining existing facilities. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said he thinks the capital improvement program will better reflect <br />that. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said we are going to have to get aggressive about health care costs and <br />said the current increases are not sustainable. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that an equal or more concern for him is investing in the future. <br />He said we need to look at the return of something new, especially those with proven <br />results of improving the economic vitality of the City. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton agreed there has to be a balance. She said there is a broad feeling <br />that we have invested in tourist areas and not in neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked if the long range budget is dynamic or static, and Ms. <br />Beauregard said it is dynamic. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked when budget forecasts are reviewed are they adjusted, and Ms. <br />Beauregard said yes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that he once again recommends that Council look at reducing <br />the general fund balance from 12% to 11 ~A% or 11%, with the savings to go in the CIP. <br />Mr. Caravati asked if there is a projected increase for agency budgets. <br /> <br />Mr. Ryan Davidson, Budget Analyst, said no target increase has been set. <br /> <br /> Ms. Beauregard said that the budget review team will not recommend an increase. <br />She said that will be recommended by the City Manager and staff. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he wants to make sure that agencies that are investing in capital <br />projects have the long-term ability to afford them. He asked that those agencies be <br />identified in the budget process. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if Councilors are interested in putting the car valuation change <br />on the next agenda. <br /> <br />Ms. Hamilton said she is interested in discussing it as an option. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he is interested in discussing it, but is keenly interested in the <br />regressive issue. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he is not inclined to support the valuation change as he has the <br />same concerns as Mr. Caravati and about where it shifts the tax burden, but said he is <br />willing to put it on the next agenda for discussion. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if Councilors are interested in setting the 6% target as proposed <br />by Mr. Lynch. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he is intrigued by the idea, but he has not been able to think it <br />through and he wants to talk to staff about the implications. He suggested this be <br />discussed at the next meeting. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown suggested that the guidelines be deferred to the next meeting and that <br />Councilors come prepared with specifics. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said we may want to reconsider the budget guideline of providing <br />40% of new funds to the Schools. He said we should try to have a vibrant discussion and <br /> <br /> <br />