10/15/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Couneit Minutes 10/15/2002 unencumbered cash balance of $1,568,000, about 2.54% of the operating expense. The school system has a budget of $41.3 million and has a cash balance of $10,645,000, or 25.?% of their operating expense. Salaries and benefits far the school system have increased as follows: 1999, 6.09%; 2000, 5.5%; 2001, 7.74%; 2002, 6.04%; 2003, projected 8.11%; 2004, projected 4.2%; 2005, projected 5.98%; 2006, projected 5.91%. These types of increases above the CPI, place a tax hardship on this community. For those who plan to vote for the resolution, it is a vote for an 8.11% increase in salaries and fringe benefits for the forthcoming year. He would expect Council to, therefore, introduce another resolution in support of an 8.1% increase in wages and benefits for police, fire and city employees. They should not be treated as second-class citizens. Failure to support the police, fire and city would send a message to the taxpayers of the city. Council members were elected to offices of the city to provide services to all residents, not to provide oversight and support for the schools. That is the responsibility of the board of education, and that is why there are two separate entities. To each person who votes for the resolution, the vote will be noted and it will be a campaign issue in the future. Mr. O'Grady said he had stated before and will stand by those comments that the city school system is a governmental agency, but one very separate from the City of North Olmsted. It would be_ improper for the city to direct the public schools on how to conduct their business as it would be improper for the school board to direct the city on how to conduct its business. With regard to his role as a public official, he will conduct it in much the same way as Mr. McKay has chosen to conduct himself. He will do what he thinks is best for the residents who put him in place. For himself, he will choose to serve the greater good, that which is right and just for the greatest number of people in the community. He has taken a stand in opposing Issue 8 and the rollback of the millage. Mr. Dailey said he will not be blackmailed by anyone to try to get him to vote one way or another. If there are going to be challengers out there, that's fine. That's what the process is all about. He gives credit to the voters they are pretty smart-and he thinks they will look at a total record and not just one issue. Mr. Gareau stated that he has never cast a vote in Council based upon how it was going to reflect upon him in the next election. He would rather quit than begin to do that. He makes his decisions based upon what is before him and what he believes is in the best interests of the residents. It is not based upon whether or not he is going to win or lose. Mrs. Copfer made a technical correction of Mr. Pangrac's presentation. He compared the city's General Fund unencumbered balance to the $64 million in the budget whic$ is not the General Fund, only $18.8 million is the General Fund budget. The $64,000 million includes all other funds. Mr. Limpert said school and city financing are two different things. The city is not constrained by H.B. 920, and the city is able to have income tax which does make a different structure. H.B. 920 does not allow for increases in property taxes that the city and county receive. ^ Evelyn Hitchcock, 4396 Coe Avenue, read from an article of the Sun Herald, dated April 25, 2002, saying that the Mayor was concerned about senior citizens. "We must become more innovative in lessening the tax burden our senior citizens are carrying so that they can continue to live in North Olmsted as they are a vital part of North Olmsted." Her comments will include concerns of other senior citizens who 16