01/20/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 1/20/2009 travels to a seminar, she gets reimbursed for mileage at the IRS rate. Mr. Fleger continued to question as to how much money Mrs. Copfer brings into the city and how many lives she saves. He said that the Mayor has told him that the fire fighters earn $88,000 a year and. only work 90 days. He believes those are outright lies. He thinks that the administrators should think about what they earn. Mrs. Copfer said each person needs to make a decision about the priorities of the city government. The safety forces are very important, and we have great safety forces. She has never questioned their ability to serve. When looking at all the wages and benefits that are paid to them because of their union contracts, she thinks their benefits are too rich. The city is in negotiations on reducing those. But it takes time because they've had. these benefits for a very long time. When Council and the administration go through the budget process, they have to look at prioritizing the needs as there is only so much revenue that comes in to this city. The city is required by law to provide financial. statements anal account for the cash, and she thinks the Department of Finance does provide very important service. She is not saving lives, but that's not her job. It's not the job of the safety forces to balance millions of dollars. Everyone's job is important. The total budget for her department is about $1.1 million, and of that there are county taxes, county assessments and fees, and RITA tax collection fees, all of which total about a half million dollars. 1VIr. Fleger thought that $SS,000 a year for a fire fighter, which their union contract calls -for, was not too high.. He felt that, if there is a problem. with overtime, the Chief should be contacted. Don't go after the person saving his life. 5) Jerome Barrett, 241.25 Le Bern Drive, asked the Finance Director what her opinion was with regard to the income tax reduction. Finance Director Copfer said it is a Catch- 22. She is very uncomfortable with any tax increase. Even though this is a credit reduction, it does affect people's pocketbooks, and she respects that and understands pocketbooks are getting a little tighter. However, she also understands the concern of the Mayor and his administration that we have no reserves to fall back on. This budget is cut to the bone, and this economic time is not very predictable. She hopes that she has enough reduction for income tax collections and that it doesn't get worse than what is predicted in this budget. She is even more concerned about 2010 because an economic recovery isn't even projected until 2010. And. in 2010 there is also the tax property value reduction that will be collected on 2009 reappraisals. She is very concerned that our revenue streams are going to be further restricted. Our expenses are flat because we are in contract negotiations for every union and have predicted. zero. We have some things that we might be able to do in this year that we can address short-term problems during the year if local government funding is cut, if there is a change in estate taxes, of if municipal income taxes are lower than. expected.. The tax credit reduction would not go into effect until the subsequent year, so it really isn't going to help 2009. It would assist in 2010. She does not tell Council. how to vote; she gives them the facts, and they make their own. decisions. 6) Adam Hudak, 3473 Tree Lane, a city fire lighter, said everyone is affected by the layoffs. It is difficult as a fire fighter to fight for their jobs when. others are losing jobs also. He does believe though that his job affects everyone daily. Residents' lives and well. being depend on the fire fighters being able to do their jobs well. It's been an honor 9