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112 <br />constituency and it is tough to say no. He said at some point we have to discuss what our <br />priorities are. He said we cross the line when we give operating funds. He urged Council <br />to think about that carefully. He said the question is how much do we need to spend. He <br />said the Jail costs are up $750,000 without an increase in the jail population. He said this <br />will require discussions with the County. He said the cost of retirement and health care <br />for public safety employees is up $750,000. He said we have doubled the money for <br />sidewalks and drainage. He said some may consider these wants, but neighborhoods <br />consider them needs. He said we have managed to reduce the tax rate by 4.5 cents. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati seconded Mr. Schilling original motion, but Dr. Brown said that <br />motion is no longer on the floor. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he agrees with Ms. Hamilton and is persuaded that Mountainside <br />is a good investment in the coming year. He said he agrees Council has to discuss if this <br />is going to be funded on an ongoing basis, if there is a role for the City in assisted living, <br />and, if so, what it is. Dr. Brown suggested funding it out of Council’s reserve. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he has discussed the issues with JABA, and made a motion to <br />provide the requested funding to Mountainside, contingent on and to be dispersed only <br />upon receipt of a quarterly statement. He said this should not be construed as operating, <br />but as a capital item, and should be taken from the CIP. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he prefers to have this discussion after we talk about our role in <br />assisted care. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he previously voted against the request because JABA did not <br />comply with the original request. He said Virginia is way behind in funding. He said <br />Council’s budget guidelines say we shall not replace funding from the state. He said <br />assisted living is definitely a need in the community. He said we should have a <br />discussion with JABA and our state legislators to try to get state funding back in the <br />realm of reality. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he thinks the funding is from the wrong source, but is the right <br />thing to do. <br /> <br /> The motion to provide one time funding of $24,849 out the CIP for Mountainside <br />was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. <br />Schilling. Noes: Mr. Lynch. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE <br />: ANNUAL TAX LEVY <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked if the wording of the tax levy before Council is prescribed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brown said that wording for the ordinance is not prescribed, but the wording <br />of the advertisement in the newspaper was prescribed by state law. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Hamilton, the ordinance entitled “AN <br />ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE ANNUAL TAX LEVY ON VARIOUS CLASSES <br />OF PROPERTY FOR THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND RETIREMENT OF THE <br />CITY DEBT, FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND CITY <br />SCHOOLS, AND FOR OTHER PUBLIC PURPOSES” was offered and carried over to <br />the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he is still hoping that the tax levy will be reduced to $1.00. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that the tax rate of $1.005 represents an increase in dollar <br />amounts. He said assessments are going up and the rate is going down, but not by an <br />equal amount. He said Council has had discussions about how to address this. He said <br />the City got a charter change that will provide tax relief to low and moderate income <br />homeowners. He said we should seek legislation that would allow Council to set <br /> <br />