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289 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Friday, December 8, 1996 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Budget Work Session BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox (signed) BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - December 8, 1996 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano, Mr. Vandever. Absent: Rev. Edwards. Mr. Toscano said the goal of the work session was to develop a set of assumptions for the 96/97 budget. Ms. Slaughter asked for staff to report on how the Albemarle County schools and government combine their budgets and to explore having more connection between the City schools and governments' budget. Mr. O'Connell reviewed the short-term fbrecast for the upcoming budget, noting that the Governor's budget will not be available until December 18: a $100,000 cut in federal transit funds is anticipated; overall revenues are expected to be similar to the previous year, with 2% to 3% growth at best; and the schools are expected to have an increase in their retirement contribution. Ms. Slaughter asked how long-term forecasts will be utilized in the budget process. 5:ir. O'Connell said he thinks that as new programs and proposed are developed or brought forward, that staff and Council will need to ask if the City can afford to fund them five to ten years ahead. Mr. O'Connell added that he thinks there will be increased requests for funding from social agencies due to financial cuts in their budgets. Ms. Slaughter said the Council may want to support proposals that can help change the downward financial trends. Mr. O'Connell explained that City and County staffs have been working together on agency budgets and suggested that Council consider a joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors for agency hearings or for a final decision-making. Councilors expressed an interest in exploring the possibility of meeting with the Board of Supervisors for a presentation by agencies with mutual concerns for the City and County. Ms. Slaughter suggested that there may be areas outside of social agencies, such as the departments of social services, that the Council and Board could mutually discuss. Ms. Daugherty expressed an interest in providing opportunities for early input from the public on the upcoming budget, and it was agreed that an insert would be placed in City Notes. The assumptions from the 95/96 budget were reviewed. Mr. O'Connell recommended that staff explore phasing in reducing the fund balance to 10%. Assumptions and strategies for the upcoming budget were discussed.