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3 <br /> Dr. Brown asked the City Manager to look at the overall budget and provide a <br />new number for Council reserve that will allow consideration of funding this or other <br />issues. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said there ought to be flexible funds for Council, and he would suggest <br />starting with $100,000 for things that come up during the year. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he would like more information on the Soil and Water <br />Conservation District. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he would like to give the Soil and Water Conservation District a <br />chance to say why we should partner with them. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed with Mr. Huja on the reserve. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that the City Manager would find funds in the budget to increase the <br />Council reserve to a total of $100,000. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Dr. Brown, Ms. Beauregard said that the City is <br />part of a consortium of City localities that collects data on departments which is then <br />submitted to ICMA and put in a book with comparative data. She said ICMA hosts <br />sessions to review the data. She said our goal is to incorporate the core measurement <br />goals into future budgets. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown suggested having a work session or presentation on this in the future. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he would like to get a copy of the book. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell noted that the City is doing more performance measurement than <br />this effort. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he would like to get more information on and revisit funding for <br />the African American Teachers Fellow proposal. <br /> <br />Wrap Up and Final Budget Decisions <br /> <br /> Mr. Bernard Wray, Director of Finance, said 638 households received $350 from <br />the CHAP Program and $377 received $500. He said he thinks more people will take <br />advantage of the program next year. He said if the amounts are increased from $350 to <br />$375 and from $500 to $525, the cost will be approximately $29,275. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said he thinks the increase proposed is reasonable. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Dr. Brown, Mr. Wray said eligible households <br />with incomes between $25,000 and $50,000 receive $350 and those below $25,000 <br />receive $500. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said that the average real estate tax increase is $110, and he would <br />support providing a proportional increase in the size of the grant to the amount <br />recommended. <br /> <br /> Councilors supported the increase in the CHAP Program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said we should continue to find ways to educate people about this <br />program. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked staff to notify Council by e-mail about how the budget is <br />adjusted in order to increase Council reserve. <br /> <br /> The meeting was adjourned. <br /> <br />_______________________________ _____________________________ <br /> <br />