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222 <br /> <br /> Ms. Peacock stated that staff recommended that funding to <br />the library be increased to fund one half of the reading <br />program and the rest of their funding request for a total <br />additional funding of $46,160 and Council tentatively agreed. <br /> Mr. Hendrix explained that the additional $18,286 for the <br />Joint Dispatch Center reflected salary increases given by the <br />County. <br /> <br /> Mro Toscano recommended that the tax relief program be <br />increased by $69,500 which would address concerns by many <br />elderly people that they are being taxed out of the homes <br />and would also address concerns of many of the low-income <br />residents adjacent to West Main Street. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter recommended that child care scholarships be <br /> earmarked for teen mothers and those receiving ADC who are in <br /> school or working and that the funds not necessarily be given <br /> to United Way. <br /> <br /> Ms. Linda Peacock, Budget Administrator, stated that she <br /> would see if child care funds not administered by United Way <br /> would be eligible for federal matching funds and Mr. Vandever <br /> also asked Ms. Peacock to see if United Way or Social Services <br /> could administer the scholarships with the funds earmarked as <br /> recommended by Ms. Slaughter. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that she would like the schools to <br /> fund their share of both Project Discovery and the Child <br /> Assault Prevention (CAP) program. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards stated that he would like the schools to <br /> compile a "wish list" of unfunded priorities. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano expressed concern about funding programs in <br /> the schools that are not considered priorities by the School <br /> Board. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that he felt some programs that are <br /> not priorities for the school are community priorities. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter expressed concern that there has been no <br /> discussion about inching down the real estate tax rate. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards stated that he felt that if the City had not <br /> downsized then the tax rate would have had to be increased. <br /> Mr. Toscano expressed concern that the City bureaucracy <br /> has been pushed to create substantial savings but the same is <br /> not being asked of outside agencies. Mr. Toscano noted that <br /> basic services have been cut out of the City's budget but <br /> agencies over which Council has no control continue to be <br /> funded. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty stated that she viewed a lot of what <br /> agencies do as what the community would like to have and noted <br /> that the citizen poll recently conducted revealed support on <br /> the part of citizens for many of the services provided by <br /> outside agencies. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards, Mr, Vandever, and Ms. Daugherty expressed <br /> support for funding both the City and School share for Project <br /> Discovery. Ms. Slaughter stated that she would support <br /> providing the City share only. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano, Ms. Slaughter and Mr. Vandever opposed <br /> providing funds for a tax reimbursement for MACAA. <br /> Additionai funding was tentatively approved for MACAA's <br /> Summer Youth Administration ($1,507) and Offender Aid and <br /> Restoration ($3,000). <br /> Ms. Daugherty stated that she would support funding for <br /> <br /> <br />