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<br /> - ------~~ <br /> e budget is in the Department of Public Safety, which is currently operating <br /> with a below-average number of personnel. He also said that the salaries, <br /> wages, and fringe benefits of the employees who work out of the General Fund <br /> are at the market rate. <br /> The council discussed the perception which exists within the community that <br /> operational inefficiency in the City is largely responsible for financial <br /> problems. It agreed on the need to implement a comprehensive educational <br /> program for citizens, particularly in the area of City operations to correct <br /> any misperceptions which might exist. <br /> Mr. Bennett acknowledged that the internal workings of the eity are difficult <br /> to understand and felt that the best way to regain public faith that the eity <br /> is not wasting taxpayer's money would be to commission an independent audit <br /> of City operations. <br /> Mr. Gleason indicated that performance audits should be done on a yearly <br /> basis; in light of the upcoming budget cuts, this is not an appropriate time <br /> to implement an expensive audit program. <br /> Mr. Rutan also acknowledged the complex nature of the eity's financial <br /> matters and said that he does not often feel confident of his understanding <br /> of the eity's budget issues about which he is being asked to make a decision. <br /> He asked that the council receive information on the budget in the future and <br /> have an opportunity to discuss the major components of the capital budget. <br /> e The council discussed what the budgetary impacts of State Ballot Measures 4 <br /> and 5 might be if they were successful. Mr. Gleason said that regardless of <br /> election outcomes, budget cuts in FY92 will still be necessary. <br /> B. Develop and Execute a Long-Term Strategic Financial Plan <br /> The council discussed the role of the Strategic Financial Planning Committee. <br /> Mr. Rutan explained that the role of this committee is to develop a set of <br /> recommendations and outline a process which the council and Budget Committee <br /> might use to make the necessary budgetary cuts. <br /> The council agreed on the need to educate the community about the City's <br /> finances enough so that they can understand and effectively participate in <br /> the upcoming budgetary decisions. <br /> Mr. Bennett reiterated his interest in hiring an external audit of eity <br /> operations. The council discussed the possibility of focusing this audit in <br /> an area where the community perceives there is the greatest problem. It also <br /> discussed the possibility of broadening the effort to involve community <br /> citizens in the audit process. <br /> Mr. Holmer questioned whether an external audit would be an effective means <br /> of determining budgetary efficiency. He suggested that the audit process <br /> might be more valuable if it came from an internal source already familiar <br /> with the local budget needs. <br /> e <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City eouncil October 27, 1990 Page 2 <br /> Goal-Setting Session <br />