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<br />J, rJ ') <br />)v~ <br /> <br />TUESDAY <br /> <br />MAY 8, 1984 <br /> <br />of a like amount from the proposed transfer of funds from the Electric Fund to the General <br /> <br />Fund, with Councilman West observing that, while not "wedded" to a total reduction by <br /> <br />$500,000.00, perhaps some $350,000.00-$400,000.00 would be entirely realistic, with some <br /> <br />proportionate share to be absorbed by the City School Board in light of declining enroll- <br /> <br />ment and excessive salaries scheduled for the School System's administrative personnel in <br /> <br />comparison with proposed salaries for the City's personnel. Mr. West suggested, further, <br /> <br />that--if Council is in agreement with his proposed General Fund reduction of $500,000.00-- <br /> <br />City Manager Edmonds be asked to reduce his portion of the General Fund Budget by <br /> <br />$250,000.00 and the School Board be asked to reduce its 1984-85 request by a like amount; <br /> <br />or, if a lesser total reduction is directed, the City and the School Board share it pro- <br /> <br />portionately. Councilmember Severt observed that, although the proposed 1984-85 City <br /> <br />Budget reflects an increase of some $570,000.00 from the Commonwealth for School purposes, <br /> <br />the City's net cost for local school operations in 1984-85 will increase by some <br /> <br />$325,000.00-$330,000.00 over that budgeted for 1983-84. Meanwhile, expressing concern <br /> <br />over the continuing rise in cost of operating the City, offset generally by increased con- <br /> <br />trbutions by the Electric Fund, and noting that revenue from local sources (including <br /> <br />property taxes on which Council has "held the line" for quite some time) has essentially <br /> <br />remained level, Mayor Cole questioned the need to reduce the City Manager's recommended <br /> <br />General Fund budget, as to proposed expenditures, which Council has examined thoroughly <br /> <br />and which the City Manager can defend and justify, only to add to what might be considered <br /> <br />an already adequate surplus; however, Councilman West warned that there is a real need to <br /> <br />build up the Electric Fund's surplus to meet this fund's capital requirements within the <br /> <br />next ten years, otherwise Council will have to "face up" to devising some other means of <br /> <br />financing the cost of these requirements. <br /> <br />Councilmember Severt, expressing the opinion that there is no need to reduce the City <br /> <br />Manager's recommended expenditure budget, as revised hereinbefore by Council, cited <br />