City Council Meeting

Gwen Riddlestaffby voiceEven modest differences in annual growth rates compound over time and are a key driver to the city's structural budget challenges. And this is just looking at percentages of the total expense versus the real estate. So over the past 15 years, the city's total general fund expenses have grown at a rate that is generally aligned with growth in real estate assessments, which are the city's primary revenue source. This indicates that overall spending growth has remained relatively disciplined and largely consistent with the growth of the tax base. On average, general fund expenses increased 3.7% annually compared with the 3.1% average growth in real estate assessments. While expenses have grown slightly faster than assessments, the difference is modest and shows that the city has generally maintained spending growth close to the pace of revenue growth.

And this is just going over the remaining meetings that we have as part of the budget cycle. where we last week we met and discussed with the school board. Tonight you approved the advertised tax rate, and then we just had our discussion on the mails tax. On the March 24th, we'll have a second public hearing for budget comments, and then again we'll be reviewing the CIP program, stormwater utility fund, and the wastewater fund. we have it slated that if we need the discussion for general funds or other and we're available April 14th is another public hearing for again for general budget comments and then whatever topics you would like to discuss at the work session April 28th there's five public hearings

Daniel Alexanderstaffa work session on the seventh discussion on more general fund questions and responses at that time we'll have a discussion on city services and support for older adults we will have a discussion on we're calling translation services really language access options for council meetings on the 7th. So we'll bring that to you. As you look at the 14th, a lot on consent related to the budget. Of note, another public hearing and then another work session that night. And that takes us through the 14th. Be happy to answer questions up to that point or beyond related to future ideas.