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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />October 12, 2022 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas <br /> Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle <br />Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Pam Axberg <br />Councilmember Emily Dunsworth (attending remotely) <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Gina Foschi, Mark Suggs <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: <br /> <br />Finance Department Updates <br /> <br />Massopust stated Finance Director Foschi had a presentation for the Council from the Finance Department. <br /> <br />Foschi stated work on the 2023 budget has officially begun and there are many steps to be completed before <br />the final budget and levies can be adopted in December. The timeline for the budget was reviewed with the <br />Council along with an overview of the process that will be followed for the budget. It was noted the Truth in <br />Taxation Hearing would be held on Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. Staff reviewed the considerations and <br />ongoing commitments that were being written into the 2023 budget. She commented on how the great <br />resignation was impacting the recruitment and retention of City employees. <br /> <br />Further discussion ensued regarding the Truth in Taxation Hearing and requested staff see if this meeting <br />would conflict with County and School Board Truth in Taxation meetings. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg recommended inflation be written into or further considered for the 2023 budget. <br />Foschi noted a 3% inflation rate was written into the budget each year. Massopust reported new quotes were <br />being requested from all department directors in order to provide the Council with the best data for the <br />upcoming budget. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen agreed this would be important to build into 2023 and future budgets. He asked if the <br />recycling contract would be reconsidered in 2023. He anticipated that the expense for this service would great <br />increase in the future. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg stated this was being seen across all sectors noting applicants and good employees are <br />becoming more difficult to find. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas recommended staff put additional COVID dollars into the 2023 budget in order to <br />assist the City should another surge occur. <br /> <br />