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- the basic premise of the plan. He said those who favor a restaurant tax should be aware that if the tax is not supported by the council, the $553,000 in new revenue will have to be raised another way. Ms. Schue asked if Mr. Bennett has alternative ideas about how to raise the money. Mr. Bennett said he supports a new revenue source. However, he said he hopes that others who advocate a new revenue source are not doing so because they support only one of the options. Ms. Schue asked what revenue source Mr. Bennett favors. Mr. Bennett said he would support a real estate transfer tax over a restaurant tax. Ms. Ehrman said the council should be considering future needs as well as present shortfalls. She said a restaurant tax is a new alternative that can potentially provide for those needs. Mr. Gleason said he needs direction from the council so that the budget recommendation from his executive managers does not come as a surprise. He said the council balloting exercise is a novel way to give the council program authority. Like the capital improvement plan, the new process might be difficult to work with during the first few years. e Mr. Holmer said there are several other important issues such as fire redeployment and the library that are outside of the current budget package. Once the council has made a decision on the current issues, he said it should focus its attention on these other outside issues. Ms. Ehrman said she does not support a new revenue source to avoid making cuts. She said new revenue is needed to address the question of long-range stability. Ms. Wooten said she does not want others to think that she is irresponsible for not agreeing with the current process. She said she is tired of hearing the City compared to a business because the City is inherently a service organization. She said she is still interested in examining what effects the cuts will have. Mayor Obie asked if Ms. Wooten is frustrated with the decisions the council has had to make. Ms. Wooten said she feels strongly enough about the cuts that the council should consider raising $600,000 instead of $500,000, and perhaps raise the money sooner than it is planning. Ms. Bascom said long-range projects and new revenue source requests should be separated from other budget concerns. She said the restaurant tax would have a better chance of passing if it is focused on specific long-range items. Mr. Miller said the council is involved in attempts to reach decisions by consensus. council should look at other ways to reach sensitive. a delicate process when it He suggested that perhaps the a decision that are not as - MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 1, 1988 Page 12