Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />August 25, 2020 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson <br /> Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br /> Councilmember Nasreen Fynewever <br /> Councilmember Paul Jacobsen <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Brenda Davitt <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: <br /> <br />2021 Budget Check-In <br /> <br />Massopust provided the Council with a 2021 budget check-in. He commented on the adjustments that were <br />made to the budget after staff received feedback from Ramsey County and the City Council at a previous <br />budget worksession meeting. He noted the preliminary levy would be approved by the Council on September <br />8th. <br /> <br />Davitt commented further on the 2021 budget summary. She reported this budget includes street <br />reconstruction, information technology changes, personnel changes, retention and recruitment of personnel, <br />and also takes into consideration of the continued impact of COVID on City services. She detailed the <br />proposed personnel changes with the Council. The 2021 proposed General Fund Revenues and Expenditures <br />was discussed. She reviewed benchmarking revenue collection per capita for New Brighton and comparable <br />cities. Staff commented on the total estimated market value for commercial and residential properties and <br />described how properties would be impacted by the preliminary levy. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson requested further information regarding the City Forester expenses. Massopust reported this <br />expense had to do with the removal of Emerald Ash Borer in the City of New Brighton. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen asked if this preliminary budget was solid or if staff was still waiting to hear about <br />health insurance increases. Massopust reported these numbers were solid. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson indicated 2021 was not an election year so there would be no election expenses. She suggested <br />elections be treated like a CIP item and that $45,000 be budgeted each year instead of every other year. <br />Massopust stated this has been discussed previously. Davitt commented further on use of fund balance and <br />stated this would be an option available to the Council. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson stated if this $45,000 were included in the 2021 budget this would increase the levy by 2.63%. <br />She asked if the Council supported this increase. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen commented he did not support this additional expense in 2021. <br />