MONROE - Members of the Finance and Taxation Committee discussed Thursday how to bridge the gap in the city's general fund between expenditures of $11.1 million and $10.3 million in revenue.
The difference of roughly $750,000 can be reduced by a $300,000 increase in the city tax levy, the maximum amount allowed under law.
Alderman Michael Boyce said while he understands the need to maintain contributions to a variety of city services, cuts to spending would need to be made unless the city were willing to host a referendum in which residents would either approve or deny an increase in taxes above what is allowable.
"The spending has gone up, there's no doubt about that," Boyce said. "I would like to see the shortfall without having to cut anything first. No one wants to see those (cuts), but something has to give."
While the committee can evaluate cuts to various programs or services, Boyce said it would be preferable to see how a reduction in the city levy may affect different departments.
City Administrator Phil Rath pointed out a decrease in city taxes is impossible if council members were looking to maintain the status quo.
"If we're looking at providing the same level and type of service; there's no way to reduce the levy and do that," Rath said.
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman suggested the possibility of following a model used by Eau Claire, which adds specific costs to special events for those hosting them. In Monroe, a special event permit costs $60. With a different approach, Bauman said the city could charge a certain amount per hour for the use of barricades or police if they are required or requested for a special event. The city could even charge per block used during an event.
Rath noted that though revenues can be increased in such ways, those amounts can also be reduced because of less willingness to host certain events and are not adequate to make up for large city expenses.
A meeting between Rath, Boyce and Monroe Mayor Louis Armstrong brought forward the idea of a possible 5 percent cut to the city levy, which would be roughly $1 million. The city recently requested the Business Improvement District Board consider an increase in the downtown levy, which would affect property owners in the downtown Square, to accommodate for the tax cut. It was met with a resounding no from BID Board members Monday.
Alderman Charles Koch indicated cuts to certain city services were necessary because council members had not been willing to increase the levy in past years to keep up with municipal expenses.
"We haven't taken the increases we're allowed to keep our services stable," Koch said.
Fellow committee member Ron Marsh said he did not wish to evaluate which numbers should be changed or what programs may need less funding because he had not received information to prepare for the meeting until Wednesday and had not had time to read over the numbers. However, he criticized the idea of simply eliminating some of the city levy when assessed city value had not seen a significant increase.
"We can't just sit in a room and say 'hey, you've got to come down 5 percent," Marsh said. "It doesn't work."
Committee members advised city staff to create scenarios outlining cuts and the subsequent impact on everyday city operations to be evaluated during an October meeting.
The difference of roughly $750,000 can be reduced by a $300,000 increase in the city tax levy, the maximum amount allowed under law.
Alderman Michael Boyce said while he understands the need to maintain contributions to a variety of city services, cuts to spending would need to be made unless the city were willing to host a referendum in which residents would either approve or deny an increase in taxes above what is allowable.
"The spending has gone up, there's no doubt about that," Boyce said. "I would like to see the shortfall without having to cut anything first. No one wants to see those (cuts), but something has to give."
While the committee can evaluate cuts to various programs or services, Boyce said it would be preferable to see how a reduction in the city levy may affect different departments.
City Administrator Phil Rath pointed out a decrease in city taxes is impossible if council members were looking to maintain the status quo.
"If we're looking at providing the same level and type of service; there's no way to reduce the levy and do that," Rath said.
Alderwoman Brooke Bauman suggested the possibility of following a model used by Eau Claire, which adds specific costs to special events for those hosting them. In Monroe, a special event permit costs $60. With a different approach, Bauman said the city could charge a certain amount per hour for the use of barricades or police if they are required or requested for a special event. The city could even charge per block used during an event.
Rath noted that though revenues can be increased in such ways, those amounts can also be reduced because of less willingness to host certain events and are not adequate to make up for large city expenses.
A meeting between Rath, Boyce and Monroe Mayor Louis Armstrong brought forward the idea of a possible 5 percent cut to the city levy, which would be roughly $1 million. The city recently requested the Business Improvement District Board consider an increase in the downtown levy, which would affect property owners in the downtown Square, to accommodate for the tax cut. It was met with a resounding no from BID Board members Monday.
Alderman Charles Koch indicated cuts to certain city services were necessary because council members had not been willing to increase the levy in past years to keep up with municipal expenses.
"We haven't taken the increases we're allowed to keep our services stable," Koch said.
Fellow committee member Ron Marsh said he did not wish to evaluate which numbers should be changed or what programs may need less funding because he had not received information to prepare for the meeting until Wednesday and had not had time to read over the numbers. However, he criticized the idea of simply eliminating some of the city levy when assessed city value had not seen a significant increase.
"We can't just sit in a room and say 'hey, you've got to come down 5 percent," Marsh said. "It doesn't work."
Committee members advised city staff to create scenarios outlining cuts and the subsequent impact on everyday city operations to be evaluated during an October meeting.