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Motion by Councilmember Shryock, seconded by Councilmember Johns, to close the public <br /> hearing. <br /> Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor LeTourneau, Councilmembers Shryock, Johns, Kuzma, <br /> Musgrove, and Riley. Voting No: None. <br /> The public hearing was closed at 7:37 p.m. <br /> Council Business <br /> Councilmember Shryock asked and received confirmation that if residents do not believe the <br /> value of their property to be correct, they can speak with the County assessor and appeal that <br /> value at the Board of Appeals and Equalization in 2019. She also reviewed the distribution of <br /> property taxes, noting that of each dollar paid, 42 cents are received by the City of Ramsey while <br /> the County and other entities are receiving the remaining 58 cents per dollar. <br /> Councilmember Riley stated that he is against the proposed budget. He stated that the City <br /> should look to compare the City's increase in taxes with the consumer price increase and future <br /> inflation rates. He stated that he is also concerned that the increases in this budget build in <br /> automatic increases in future years. He explained that the levy is being bought down by about <br /> two percent by using the revolving fund. He stated that if the budget is adopted as proposed <br /> there are partial year employees that will be added and will be fully funded employees in 2020. <br /> He stated that any new and existing positions also receive COLA and step increases. He stated <br /> that without even making a decision on 2020, there would already be an increase of four to five <br /> percent just because of the additions to this budget. He stated that within five years the City is <br /> looking at hard decisions, using the example of the public works facility and street reconstruction <br /> funding. He explained that the increases in the budget this year make it much harder to plan for <br /> those items in future years. He stated that he will not support the proposed budget. <br /> Councilmember Shryock stated that the Council.has had thorough discussions at the worksession <br /> meetings and there are tough decisions. She stated that there are staff that are being overworked <br /> and staff that are unable to respond to resident calls because of the current staffing level. She <br /> stated that at the last worksession she made the comment that if these positions are needed <br /> because staff is being stretched thin, she would want to ensure that the current staff is being <br /> treated correctly and not stretched too thin. She stated that staff has said that these are needed <br /> positions that will help alleviate the stress and extra hours that other staff members are putting in. <br /> She stated that at the last worksession she made the comment that she would support these <br /> positions but then there needs to be an understanding that additional positions may not be <br /> approved in 2020. She stated that she will support the budget as the City is in a position of <br /> catch-up and is short staffed, but the City needs to be mindful in the years to come as there are <br /> big decisions to be made in the future. She noted that road debt continues to add a large amount <br /> to the budget. She stated that in mid-January a road funding discussion will begin to determine <br /> the different options for road funding, as that element continues to have a huge impact on the <br /> budget. <br /> City Council/December 11,2018 <br /> Page 6 of 18 <br />