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+# <br />;2011 Budget Hearings <br />PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AUGUST 16, 2010 <br />The August 16, 2010 Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting was called to order by <br />its Chairperson Tom LaFountain at 4:00 p.m. <br />Committee Member's in Attendance: Tom LaFountain, Karen L. White; David Varner <br />Oliver Davis <br />Other Council Member's: Derek Dieter; Ann Puzzello; Tim Rouse; Henry Davis; <br />Al "Buddy" Kirsits <br />Other's Present: Mayor Luecke, Gregg Zientara, Chuck Leone, Jeff Gibney, Rita <br />Kopala, Carol Davis, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Phil St. Clair, Catherine Toppel, John <br />Murphy, Kurt Brown, Rahman Johnson, Mikki Dobski, Mary Ann Myers <br />AGENDA: MAYOR'S OPENING REMARKS/BUDGET OVERVIEW <br />With a full committee, Chairperson LaFountain, Chair of the Personnel & Finance <br />Committee introduced Mayor Luecke to make introductory remarks. <br />The Mayor said he was ready to proceed noting he was here to listen to Council as well <br />as just present his priorities in the budget. He went on to say there was both good and <br />bad news. Starting with the bad the Mayor said the assessed value of the City was down <br />again. Unemployment was high lowering COIT proceeds and the property tax collection <br />rate was lower than in the past. The good news is that through conservative budgeting <br />the foresight to have reserves and efficiencies, the city was in relatively good shape. <br />However due to property tax caps imposed by the state the city will be operating with <br />significantly fewer dollars in the years ahead. The amount estimated at $23.8 million in <br />2011, $24.6 million in 2012 and $25 million in 2013. Between 2008 and 2011 the <br />property tax generated will fall from $65.2 million to $50.2 million a 25% cut. On the <br />plus side, Local Option Income Taxes (LOIT) and the (COIT) County Option Income <br />Tax will cover some of the loss. Councilmember Tim Rouse questioned the reliability of <br />the projections for the Auditor. The Mayor responded saying these numbers were figured <br />conservatively. Gregg Zientara, City Controller, proceeded to expand on the Mayor's <br />overview. He distributed the large 3-ring budget binder to Council walking them through <br />the first introductory pages. <br />Chairperson LaFountain asked the Council to review the budget and review the calendar.