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105 <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said if we can find $200,000 to plug the hole he would be okay with <br />the salary increase as proposed. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said that he feels $155,000 could be reduced in the General Fund <br />over a year’s time, but he said he cannot provide details for Monday’s meeting. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati agreed with Mr. Lynch about reducing the salary increase. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown argued that if the City Manager will commit to finding $155,000 he <br />will agree to maintain 4% salary increase. He said he does not want to fall behind in the <br />region. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he would like to see the percentage increases for the last five <br />years. He said he would like to see competitive positions. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said if the City Manager is willing to commit to savings she is <br />willing to agree to keep the salary increase. She said she would rather not target <br />employees. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown agreed. <br /> Mr. Schilling said he will agree pending more information on employees. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he will support reducing the fund balance to $400,000. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he is frustrated with the School budget and recommended <br />cutting $210,000 out of their budget. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said a new Superintendent is coming in and he wants to put her in a <br />position to succeed, and he does not think cutting their budget helps. He said he would <br />not favor cutting the School budget. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said she is concerned about the School budget, particularly with the <br />salary increase without an up to date evaluation instrument. She said the general level of <br />responsiveness and Council’s ability to work with the School Board is a concern. She <br />said she is not sure that cutting their budget is the best way to demonstrate out concern <br />this year. She said she would put the School Board on notice that we need to see a <br />different level of cooperation next year or their budget may be cut. She said she is not <br />comfortable cutting their budget with a new Superintendent coming in. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that if the tax rate is reduced to $1.01 then the reduction would <br />also apply to the Schools. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said that 40% of new funds at a tax rate of $1.01 amounts to <br />$1,912,000. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch suggested taking the additional funds and saying we need a program to <br />address the drop-out rate or we will find a program to do that. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling agreed with Mr. Caravati that the budget needs to be looked at. He <br />asked the City Attorney to address Council’s ability to decide where money can be spent <br />by the School Board. <br /> <br /> Mr. Craig Brown, City Attorney, said that Council does not have to appropriate <br />all funds at once. He said Council can appropriate funds by categories established by the <br />state, but cannot dictate that money be spent on a particular program. He said Council <br />can discuss School salary increases, but cannot dictate to the Schools what the increase <br />will be and cannot legally bind the School Board to fund a particular program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said Mr. Caravati makes a good point in principle, but he also <br />agrees with Ms. Hamilton about not getting results. He said he has a problem taking <br />money out of their budget at the last minute, and feels it would have been more fair to <br /> <br />