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<br />Councilmember Musgrove stated that there were both eight and four percent increases mentioned <br />in the presentation and asked for clarification. <br /> <br />Finance Director Lund replied that the eight percent increase was related to the general fund budget <br />while the four percent increase was related to the property tax levy. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove referenced the slide in the presentation related to other funding sources <br />and asked if the franchise fee was included. <br /> <br />Finance Director Lund replied that the franchise fee was not included as that is not part of the <br />general fund budget. She reviewed the other funding sources which were included in the <br />presentation. <br /> <br />Public Hearing <br /> <br />Mayor LeTourneau called the public hearing to order at 7:50 p.m. <br /> <br />Citizen Input <br /> <br />th <br />Jeriann Palmer, 8251 154 Lane NW, referenced the franchise fee which she feels is more of a <br />hostage fee that will actually cost her more annually. She stated that people are having difficulties <br />because of the impacts of COVID and does not like that her taxes are increasing to support a cost- <br />of-living increase for staff. She noted that she has not received a cost-of-living increase in five <br />years. She referenced the new equipment and public works facility and asked if the expenditures <br />could be spread over more years. She asked how many households the cost is being shared across. <br />She referenced the new properties that have been developed and how that is spread across the <br />years. She stated that perhaps equipment purchases are pushed out until those homes are brought <br />into the tax base to offset the cost. <br /> <br />Mayor LeTourneau thanked Ms. Palmer for her comments. He noted that the Council has <br />discussed this topic on multiple occasions and has discussed the questions that Ms. Palmer brought <br />forward. <br /> <br />Ms. Palmer recognized that additional personnel are necessary to keep up with the additional <br />households that have been added but did not believe it appropriate to receive a cost-of-living <br />increase when many residents have not been receiving cost of living increases and many have <br />actually lost jobs. <br /> <br />Mayor LeTourneau stated that the Council spent much of the worksession discussion tonight <br />related to staff compensation and there was much debate on that topic. He stated that he cannot <br />say the City is doing it right or wrong, but the Council is attempting to make the best decisions. <br /> <br />Ms. Palmer stated that she moved to Ramsey because it was a small and sleepy community but <br />over the years the noise level has changed because of the increasing growth. She stated that she is <br />concerned that the City has perhaps lost what it was in the process. <br /> <br />City Council / December 8, 2020 <br />Page 7 of 17 <br /> <br />