Minutes - Charter Commission - 09/28/1983

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Commissioner Lichter - If a certain percentage had a problem with budget line items, Council could override their petition. If the citizens still have a problem with budget items they could get up a petition with even more signatures being required and put the budget itmms toareferendum. Audience Comment - Your City has a time limit to set a levy, by law. Commissioner Lichter - Budgeting process may have to be initiated earlier. Audience comment - Expenditures for the current year are of value when preparing the upcoming budget. If we were to allow for any problems, we would have to start in Jaunary or Februray of that year. Chairman Heitman - Recognizing my concern as a citizen and the obstacles presented to the City, what isa resolution to satisfy both sides? Audience Comment - I am not against charter, but you cannot tie the hands of the elected officials so they cannot operate, particularly when it comes to money issues. Commissioner Sieber - What if I and 51% of the citizens disagree with the budget? What can we do? Audience Comment - Have served on the City Budget Committee for 3 years. We have never had citizens objecting to anything on the budget -- nobody comes to the revenue sharing public hearings. 90% of the b~dget is basic core. Commissioner Lichter - Our big concern is the City spending too much, say to establish a fire department. Commissioner Gamec - The city couldn't because of it's levy limit. Audience Comment - If we wanted to spend above our levy limit, it would have to go to a vote of the people. We are at our levy limit right now, we don't have a bunch of money sitting around, we have to dig to make ends meet. Audience Comment - City is not restricted as to how it spends grant money. Audience Comment - These are not dollars that are just dropped on us to use at our discretion; they are granted contingent upon being spent where State and Federal government tells us to spend them. Commissioner Data - The revenue sharing public hearing is a formality - it is not binding. Council can do what they want. We are proposing to have some control through this charter. Chairman Heitman - If the people are told a park will not be developed, for instance, and it does, what can we do? Audience Comment - If the charter states budgets are to be adopted by ordinance and a budget is subjected to referendum and as a result does not get adopted on time -- Chairman Heitman - You can construct any scenario you want, the issue is that the input received at public hearings is not binding. Audience Comment - If the budget is not approved and adopted, come January the City would not be authorized to pay it's bills. CC/September 28, 1983 Public Hearing Paee 8 of 11