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<br /> 94 <br /> The majority of Council support funding for membership in the Soil and Water <br />Conservation District. <br /> <br /> Regarding Piedmont CASA, Ms. Ellis said that the program works with foster <br />care children and was the highest rated program. She said the City funded the program <br />several years ago, CASA withdrew from City funding, and now they are back requesting <br />funding. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he has first hand experience that CASA is a really good program <br />and he supports funding for it. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said CASA works well with Social Services and he thinks it is a valuable <br />program. <br /> <br /> The majority of Council supported funding for CASA. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said his goal is to have a net decrease in the budget of 5% and he <br />wanted to throw out some ideas. He said he has spoken to School staff and School Board <br />members about reducing their budget through attribution, and proposed reducing their <br />budget by $250,000. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked how many unfilled position the schools have today. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he does not know. He said he is also working on finding <br />another $250,000 in the City’s budget to put with this $250,000 that could be used to <br />target the achievement gap in grades 6 through 9. He said he will try to get support for <br />this proposal from Council and the community. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said if this was done, could there be flexibility enough to say that <br />Buford and Walker being separated is a problem, and could the schools use this money to <br />realign the schools. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he does not see why not. He said he has not finished his <br />thoughts on what it would be used for. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said there are two issues: should we cut the school budget, and if so, <br />should money be set aside. He said he is not comfortable setting it aside. He said the <br />Schools currently have no Superintendent and they are in the middle of their Strategic <br />Plan. He said he thinks Council is exceeding its role. He said Council could certainly cut <br />the School’s budget, but he said he feels a great sense of urgency. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that last year the School budget was not cut when the tax rate was <br />cut. He proposed that if the tax rate is reduced by 5 cents then this reduction be passed <br />on to the Schools. He said nothing in the School budget addresses the drop-out rate. He <br />said he is disappointed, and thinks we ought to insist that this be addressed. He said if <br />they come up with a proposal Council could provide funds at the original number. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said she would favor exploring what could be done with $250,00. <br />She said she is a maybe to the second idea. <br /> <br /> Regarding the affordable housing program, Mr. Lynch said he agrees more money <br />should be targeted to homeowners. He said we should look at the cap to which the $250 <br />rebate would be applied. He said we should get estimates based on $400,000 and <br />$500,000 assessment, assuming 100% participation. <br /> <br /> The meeting was adjourned. <br /> <br />_____________________________ _____________________________ <br />President Clerk <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />