12-11-08 Common Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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SPECIAL MEETING DECEMBER 11, 2008 increase. He stated that HEA 1001 through everyone for a loop, but it is obvious that the City was already teetering on the edge. Thus, there are the two options, tax the residents, to maintain the limited status quo or use the situation to instigate change and to reform how the city works in servicing its citizens. He stated that the issue at hand is the housing crisis, what will it be five (5) years from now. Councilmember Henry Davis stated that maybe they should write Congress and ask for a bailout package. Councilmember Oliver Davis advised that he has the privilege of working on the negotiating team for the police and firefighters this past summer. He stated that the experience was very enlightening for him. He noted that the Police and Fire Departments do make up 75% of the City’s total operating budget and that figure is very real. He stated that they struggled to come to terms for a one (1) year contract for both police and fire and had opened his eyes up to issues that he never saw before. He stated that he finally understands why when cuts have to be made, it is the police and fire departments that need to be cut first, mainly because they make up the largest part of the budget, not because anyone is against the police department or fire department, it is just when you have a budget that consumes over half of the entire budget, it is the first place you look at. He stated that cutting the police & fire budgets is not a scare tactic or a threat as many th may want to suggest. He stated that he represents the 6 District, and lives near Rum Village Park. He stated that the park brings a wonderful quality of life for his daughter and him. He advised that they walk and ride their bicycles in the park and enjoy doing this very much. Councilmember Davis stated that the Park Department is the next largest department for the City. He stated that Police, Fire and Parks are very important to him and finds it very difficult to have to look at those departments to make cuts first. He stated that the State Legislature has put local governments in a very difficult position. He stated that he would support the substitute bill at the lower rate. Councilmember Varner stated that the Council has been discussing this issue for the past 12 months. He stated that he has been taking notes and all kinds of thoughts have crossed him mind. He stated that the primary thought is when do you enact a tax and why. He stated that he is on the opposing side of the Mayor. Councilmember Varner stated that the only time a tax is enacted is when there is absolutely no other choice. He stated that in 2009 there are other choices. He stated looking down the road in 2010 is different, and there are already option taxes in place. He stated that when the option taxes were first put into place about fourteen (14) years ago, it was the police and fire departments that came before the Council and stated that the Council needed to enact the tax so that the departments could get adequate enough raises to keep and hire quality employees. He stated that there has to some way to lobby down state to be able to tap those TIF Districts and allow those revenues back into the general fund. Councilmember Varner stated that the Umbaugh Report noted that there is approximately 15 to 20 million dollars in there growing and get spent by the Redevelopment Commission without ever coming before the Council for their approval. At some point and time, it those TIF dollars continue to grow without restraint and doesn’t share those resources with the general public those residents that don’t live in a TIF District will be paying the entire tax. He stated that he believes in his opinion that everyone gave their best effort at budget time, but there were no real cuts made, no action plan devised, and now we are at this point, asking the taxpayers to give more by enacting additional option taxes. He stated that he would much rather come back to this issue after the cuts have been made and to actually see what the shortfall is going to be, then enact a tax to support the shortfall not to enact a tax to support the majority of it. He stated that he believes that is being a fiscally responsible Councilmember. He stated that he believes that once a tax is enacted it is not ever going to be reduced or eliminated. He likened it to the 2% mandatory temporary State Sales Tax thirty-five (35) years ago is now 7% which was supposed to be considered to reduce any new tax locally. He stated that the position that the State has left local government is truly a difficult place to be, but the Council needs to look long and hard at cutting the budget before expecting the residents and taxpayers to pay more. He stated that the Council did not do their due diligence regarding this matter. Councilmember White again thanked everyone for attending this evening’s Council Meeting. She stated that she appreciates both side of the issue, however, when the comments become personal, people lose sight of what is important. She stated that this 17