2005-12-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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492 the types of savings mentioned by Mr. Caravati are a good idea, but said none of those can be planned for and put into this year's budget. Mr. Lynch said it is worth noting that the City and County School Boards met to discuss joint programs. He said he is find with keeping the 40% figure, but signaling that it is a guideline and not a hard limit. He noted that education is the number one priority for the voting public and probably for Council. Ms. Hamilton agreed. The majority of Council agreed with keeping guideline #4. Mr. Lynch said he is not sure why we should drop the original #9 (focus on Council' s priorities). Ms. Hamilton said they are based on old Council priorities. She suggested new wording - "balancing the need for investing in the City infrastructure and facilities and creation of new opportunities for investing in the future of the City." Mr. Caravati said he would like to advocate for a couple of items in the original #9, the number one being education. Mr. Lynch said he is not sure the old list of priorities has changed that much. Ms. Hamilton said she would be comfortable combining the two. Dr. Brown said he likes the language provided by Ms. Hamilton and would like to see it be a stand alone guideline. Councilors agreed with this suggestion. Mr. Lynch, referring to guideline #16, said that the meals tax was raised to have more capital improvement funding for the schools, with a compromise set of 75% for the high school and the rest for other City needs. He said he does not want to lose that initial focus. Mr. O'Connell said that the bulk of money last year went to Charlottesville High School. He said future capital improvements for the Schools roughly equals the increase in the meals tax. Mr. Lynch said we should not let ourselves forget that is what we intended to do. Mr. O'Connell suggested adding "priority" for schools in the guidelines. Mr. Lynch suggested saying "earmark." The majority of Council supported the priority language for the guideline. Mr. Lynch said he would like to add a guideline, setting a target for the real increase in real estate tax assessments for owner occupied properties to no more than 6%. He said he thinks it is important to have a target. Mr. Caravati said the companion side is lowering the rate. Dr. Brown asked if this is different than reducing the tax rate. Mr. O'Connell said this would immediately reduce the money for Schools as well as for the rest of the City. He said if Council is looking toward a target, he suggested using the charter program.