HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/12/1988CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
September 12, 1988
4:45 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor McKinley, Brown, Dell, Buck, Fox and
Wright.
Mayor McKinley opened the meeting by stating that currently the
City of Waterloo is funding various human service agencies and
have done so for many years. In the past, these agencies were
funded with revenue sharing with the understanding that when
revenue sharing money was cut off from the City, likewise funding
would be eliminated for these agencies. Revenue sharing monies
have not been received by the City of Waterloo for two years;
however, said agencies have continued to be funded from City tax
dollars. Currently, there is no criteria for funding the
agencies as listed.
Councilperson Brown stated that the human service agencies do not
belong in the City budget structure and that other sources of
funding should be sought by said organizations. He made it clear
that all of the organizations are good and provide necessary
services to the community, but given the financial situation of
the City, we are unable to afford to fund them.
Councilperson Buck questioned the legal responsibility of
continued funding to the Waterloo Redevelopment Authority (WRA),
the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) and
Civil Defense. Currently, the City, the WRA and INRCOG have
signed agreements for financial support. The legal ramifications
of funding Civil Defense must be investigated. The City has also
committed to funding Cedar Valley for three years in the amount
of $10,000 each year.
Discussion was heard concerning how the City began funding some
of the organizations listed. Some of the agencies came to the
City for match money and therefore continued on City funding. It
is unknown at this time what percentage of the operating budget
the City's contribution is of each of the agencies listed.
Councilperson Fox asked which of the agencies listed are
dependent on the City for survival. This was also an unknown
factor. Councilperson Buck stated that the agencies listed
provide a valuable service to the City and that the City has a
responsibility for continued funding. The subsidy to these
agencies is approximately $225,000 annually, or approximately
three quarters of 1 percent of the total City budget. This is a
small price to pay for providing the basic human services that
these agencies provide.
Councilperson Brown stated that the City is limited in the amount
of money that can be raised through taxation. He asked
Councilmembers how the City would treat new requests for funding.
He asked what criteria would be used. He suggested the
possibility of funding the human service agencies from the
Quality of Life portion of the sales tax, if approved on
September 27. Councilperson Buck stated that funding these
agencies from the sales tax is still tax money and was really no
different than funding them from the regular City budget.
Councilperson Dell asked how three quarters of 1 percent of the
entire City budget could adversely affect the City. He stated
that it would be a positive statement to the community if we
would commit to continued funding. Councilperson Wright
suggested that funding for the human service agencies be reviewed
again at budget time, and that if money was not available at that
time, action would be taken accordingly.
Work Session Minutes
September 12, 1988
Page 2
Clerk/Auditor Larry Burger stated that funding these agencies
through the Quality of Life Commission created by the Local
Option Sales Tax would allow the Commission to closely review the
agencies' needs. Currently, given the time constraints during
the City budget process, it becomes impossible for the Citizens
Budget Review Committee to adequately review the agencies and
give proper attention to the City's entire $40 million budget.
It was suggested that funding for the agencies be reviewed after
the election. Councilperson Fox stated that the Council should
be philosophically deciding whether or not we should be funding
these agencies and not looking at each one individually. Should
we or should we not be in the business of funding these agencies.
Councilperson Buck stated that such agencies
Partnership, INRCOG, WRA, Civil Defense, and
contract for the Employee Assistance Program
category as the other human service agencies
the City's subsidy to human service agencies
as the Cedar Valley
the substance abuse
are not in the same
therefore reducing
to $160,000 annually.
Mayor McKinley suggested that all agencies currently funded by
the City resubmit their request justifying the need for the
subsidy. Councilperson Fox suggested that the City establish a
dollar limit that human service agencies will be funded and that
agencies make applications according to this established amount.
Councilperson Fax also suggested the possibility of establishing
a Blue Ribbon Committee to review the human service agencies'
budgets. Councilperson Dell reiterated his statement that it
would be a positive sign to the community if the City were to
continue funding of the human service agencies.
It was the consensus of the Council that the currently funded
human service agencies be notified by letter that each will need
to make application to the City for funding for F.Y. 1990. There
will be no automatic renewals without making application for
funding through the City.
With no further business before the City Council, the Work
Session was adjourned.
Larry P. Burger
Clerk/Auditor