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Mr. $chroeder stated that the extra police officer increases our operation cost by $40,000 or <br />so. Therefore, Council bought into the fact that the levy will be $40,000 forever. <br />Whereas, a truck will not necessarily do the same thing. <br /> <br />Sergeant Gustafson stated we will never get ahead of the game if we stay even; to not <br />increase either people or equipment when there are still hundreds of houses being built out <br />there will put us behind. How we deliver what we are supposed to to the people is based <br />on what we do here at the budget level. What do we provide that is not necessary? <br /> <br />Mr. Boos, too, wondered what service we provide that may not be necessary. <br /> <br />Mr. Sehroeder commented that forestry is something a lot of cities do not have as is <br />recreation and the D.A.R.E. program. These are programs you could live without. We <br />have talked about contracting snow removal. We could then decrease our operating <br />expense. <br /> <br />Mr. Boos stated that if we had adequate public works staff, we might be able to handle <br />some of the building maintenance which would eliminate expense. <br /> <br />Ms. McAloney stated that would be trading one staff for another and that would probably <br />be more expensive. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder stated that reallocation of dedication funds, it has been argued before that we <br />could take some money out of the Landfill Trust Fund for operating costs. He stated he <br />disagrees with that, but it is an option. A couple of you have said if Council says we need <br />to cut $$0,000, we need to come back to the list. I feel we should have something <br />prepared with thoughts about that prior to Council sending us back to the drawing board. <br />He again asked, if you were looking to cut from this budget, where would it come from. <br /> <br />Chief Auspos stated he "hated to show the cards I have in the hand because sometimes <br />Council will take those. I would rather Council say which way we should go and we will <br />take it from there". <br /> <br />Councilmember Hardin stated if it gets to the Council level, the easier way to f'md the <br />money is to "go for the bigger items". <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder suggested sitting down with the lists, comparing notes, talking about what <br />makes sense and why because he felt it would be good to sit at the Council table and say <br />we have thought about this and we can make suggestions. He added that if Council cuts <br />the biggest items because of angry citizens, we might be able to come up with better ideas. <br />While we are opposed to transfers of dedicated funds, we may recommend a one-time <br />transfer. I do not want to be unprepared for inappropriate cuts unless you all t think <br />Council will say we will stick to our levy. <br /> <br />Chief Auspos stated he is looking at it from the point that if Council says do k, I will. <br /> <br />Sergeant Gustafson felt that to recommend more cuts seems to say we didn't need that item <br />anyway. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder stated "I do not feel this Council will see it that way. I cannot imagine <br />Council ~ying it's a bad idea to replace squads; maybe they will say it's a bad idea to <br />replace four squads". <br /> <br />Staff Budget Meeting/November 18, 1994 <br /> Page 3 of 4 <br /> <br /> <br />