2002-03-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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288 children and families. Ms. Stone said she feels she gets good value for her property assessments. Responding to a question from Ms. Richards, Ms. Stone said that State cuts to the Commission amount to $90,000. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Ms. Richards said she is surprised that Council has not heard from more people about the proposed fee increases. Mr. Lynch said he sympathizes with people who are concerned about increases in the budget, but noted that Council had to do a lot of backfill due to State budget cuts. Mr. Lynch said he is more in favor of looking at increasing the meals tax rather than the fees proposed. Mr. Lynch said he does not support increasing the E911 fee, and is ambivalent about increasing the trash fee, though he noted that the fee is not paying for the service. Mr. Cox said State cuts are probably also going to be with us next year, and he is concerned that if Council funds what the State cuts, they will become part of the City's ongoing budget. Mr. Cox said that the trash fee has fallen short of covering 50% of the cost of the service, and he would support incremental increases each year with the revenue targeted to Landfill and recycling costs. Mr. Cox said that increases in the automobile sticker could support alternatives to the car. Regarding increased assessments, he said that we are victims of our own success. Mr. Toscano expressed concern that cuts in the area of criminal justice will result in a greater burden on the city to pick up the cost for youth placement. Mr. Toscano asked that Council be provided foster care numbers prior to the work session. Mr. Toscano said that this issue may need to be faced mid-year if not addressed during the budget. Mr. Toscano agreed that the City cannot fdl in the State budget gaps. Mr. Toscano said he thinks any fee ipx~reases should be linked to something, and noted that be thinks it is worth looking at increasing the trash fee in light of increased costs of the Landfill. He said that increasing the E911 fee could result in more money in the capital budget, and increasing the decal fee would bring it more in line with the fee in the County. Mr. Toscano said his first priority is children, and he would propose setting funds aside for the Department of Social Services should it be needed mid-year. Mr. Toscano said that the Drug Court and other drug treatment programs that have been cut by the State could be funded with one time money such as CDBG funds, but he noted that the City is not going to have the money to fund all ofthese things. Mr. Caravati said there will be an immediate increase at the jail due to elimination of other programs. Mr. Caravati said Council may need to take a much harder look at existing C~y programs. Mr. Lynch said he thinks there are some things in the City's budget that could be cut such as contract services and economic development initiatives. He said capital needs for the Ci~ and Schools are not being adequately funded. Ms. Richards noted that departmental funding is level this year and only a 2 1/2% salary increase is proposed even though there are increasing service responsibilities. Regarding the Drug Court and drug rehabilitation cutbacks, Ms. Richards said the question is does the locality take on the responsibility for these services when the State relinquishes it, noting that it will ultimately cost the locality more if those services are elim/nated. Ms. Richards agreed that any fee increases need to be dedicated. Ms. Richards noted that the current trash sticker fee only covers one third of the cost when the Landfill cleanup costs are included, though it was originally intended to cover 50% of the cost. She agreed that the trash sticker fee should be incrementally increased. Ms. Richards said she disagrees with Mr. Lynch about cutting economic development initiatives because they ultimately add to the City's revenue base and are an investment in the future.