City Council Minutes 09-09-1993 SpecialMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Thursday, September 9, 1993 - 7 p.m.
Members Present: Ken Maus, Shirley Anderson, Brad Fyle, Clint Herbst,
Members Absent: Patty Olsen
1. Review preliminary budget proposal submitted by City Administrator, Rick
Wolfsteller, and consider setting the date for the public hearing necessary in
conjunction with setting the final budget and associated levy.
Rick Wolfsteller reviewed 3 basic options for the 1994 budget and associated
implications. The first option called for no increase in the tax levy, the second
option called for a 5% increase, and the third option called for a 10% increase.
Wolfsteller went on to note that for the most part, projected operations
expenses have been established to match inflation; however, there are some
additional expenses associated with a proposal to hire additional secretarial
staff. The main reason for the increase is to support funding of capita].
improvement items needed to maintain the existing service level and improve
park facilities in our growing city.
Ken Maus suggested that perhaps a portion of the general fund operations
expenses could be used to pay for capital improvement expenses. Maus also
brought up the concept of selling a bond for some of the capital improvement
expenses. This would allow us to complete certain projects without resulting
in a significant jump in taxes for 1994.
Council discussion focused on the budget submitted by the Parks Commission,
and it was the consensus of Council that the items identified by the Parks
Commission as necessary in 1994 are worthwhile projects; however, they may
need to be developed over a longer period of time.
After discussion, it became the consensus that a budget increase is necessary
for 1994. In the past few years, there have been no increases in city taxes and,
due to growth in the community and resulting increased demand for services
and facilities, there is a need to allow the levy to increase accordingly. Clint
Herbst indicated that he would prefer to see a 2%-3% increase. Brad Fyle
indicated that he would prefer a 5% increase but no higher. He believes this
is a fair budget increase given the list of projects that will need to be
completed in order to maintain the existing service level. Shirley Anderson
said that she would support a 5% increase if a portion of it is used for funding
future necessary projects.
Rick Wolfsteller said that the City should seriously be looking at a 5%
increase, otherwise we will be asking the taxpayers to pay larger increases at
some point in the future.
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Special Council Minutes - 9/9/93
After discussion, a motion was made by Brad Fyle and seconded by Shirley
Anderson to set the preliminary levy at $2,652,527, which is a 5% increase
over 1993, and set the date for the public hearing for review of the budget and
associated levy on December 1, 1993, at 5 p.m. Motion carried unanimously
with Patty Olsen absent.
There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned.
4e",-
JeffNeill
Assistant Administrator
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