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<br />positions. He stated that the task is to find ways of determining which jobs are critical and <br />essential to the City. <br /> <br />Chairperson Strommen stated that she suspects that the City may see the same kind of budget <br />numbers for 2010. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig asked if staff had seen any indicators for growth and the potential turn <br />around of the economy. He stated that the County was just targeted as having diminishing value, <br />so when someone goes in for a home mortgage, the Fanny Mae's of the world have said because <br />this is a County with diminishing value, they need to come up with more money for a down <br />payment. He stated that he has had conversations with a group that have said that they can still <br />get people into homes for 0-5% down. He asked if this group should be asked to make a <br />presentation to the HRA so the City can be more proactive and bring some tools to residents. <br /> <br />Chairperson Strommen stated that this would be a good topic for the HRA to discuss and noted <br />that other communities have offered pre-foreclosure counseling to residents. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Miller stated that the City is sending some information out in <br />the utility bills on pre-foreclosure counseling. <br /> <br />Chairperson Strommen stated that she feels the Council will need to think holistically on how it <br />approaches the 2009 budget and thinks that everything will need to be put on the table for <br />discussion. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig stated that this is one reason that he thinks the City should look for ways <br />to be more proactive to help us out financially and not only be looking at ways to cut the budget, <br />but also ways of bringing more revenue into the City. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich reiterated that the budget and a potential hiring freeze will be the <br />topics for the May 6, 2008 work session. He stated that the Personnel Committee is discussing <br />an Accountant I position that is open and has evaluated it using the criteria outlined in the staff <br />report and found that it is an important position with essential accounting duties. <br /> <br />COMMITTEE INPUT <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />ADJOURNMENT <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember Look, to close the regular <br />meeting of the Finance Committee. <br /> <br />Motion carried. <br /> <br />The regular meeting of the Finance Committee adjourned at 6:02 p.m. <br /> <br />Finance Committee / April 22, 2008 <br />Page 30f 4 <br />