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218 <br /> <br />tax. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she did not believe the budget <br />could be cut as significantly as proposed by Mr. Vandever <br />without cutting services. Ms. Waters stated that the <br />question before her was whether to shift the burden from the <br />real estate tax to the cigarette tax since she did not think <br />the real estate tax could be cut without instituting the <br />cigarette tax. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that he felt it was better to tie <br />reductions in the real estate tax to reductions in the <br />budget because he did not believe the cigarette tax was as <br />stable a source of revenue. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters reiterated that she did not think see areas <br />for major cuts in the budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever questioned the budget strategy of <br />protecting existing services which incrementally layer <br />overhead exPenses and gave the example of the addition'of the <br />assistant director of~administration'in'Public Works. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that positions had been added by Council <br />in the Public Works Department after much debate because <br />major problems existed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix explained that in addition to significant <br />other duties, the additional staff in Public Works are <br />responsible for almost the entire capital program and spend <br />considerable time on the neighborhood drainage program as <br />amended last year by Council. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters questioned whether Council members felt that <br />significant cuts could be made, or whether members felt that <br />minor cuts, in the range of $75,000, should be explored. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that his goal was to accumulate <br />additional funds to fund new programs, <br /> <br /> Mr. buck stated that he was comfortable with the ~City <br />Manager's proposed budget because he felt it was a reflection <br />of direction given by Council at its annual retreat in the <br />fall. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe stated that he would like to see significant <br />cuts, but did not feel that he could say where. Mr. Towe <br />recommended that the real estate tax rate be cut by 3 cents, <br />and the cuts be taken out of the City and School budgets. <br />Mr. Towe recommended that the cigarette tax be considered <br />after these cuts are made. Mr. Towe also favored reducing <br />the personal property tax by 5 cents. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she felt the only way a cut could <br />be made in the real estate tax rate was through a cigarette <br />tax. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards stated that he would like to see a drop in <br />the real estate tax rate, but would not agree to cut the <br />School budget. Rev. Edwards asked the City Manager where he <br />would recommend reducing staff if necessary. Rev. Edwards <br />stated that he was uncertain as to whether he favored'~ <br />instituting the cigarette tax and added that it might not be <br />possible to reduce the tax rate at this time, <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that the School have operated within the <br /> revenue increase proposed by the City and he would not favor <br /> reducing their budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever and Ms. Waters stated that they would not <br /> favor reducing the School budget. <br /> <br />Ms. Waters recommended that staff suggest cuts that <br /> <br /> <br />