City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2008 06 10

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SUBJECT: DISCUSSION -CONTEXT FOR DEVELOPING THE 2009 BUDGET DATE: JUNE 10, 2009 • We need to make sure we don't let the quality of the City's core services and existing physical infrastructure decline as wee taking on new responsibilities. • We need to bring our Information Technology systems and support up to the current municipal standard in order to deliver the services residents expect of us. Preliminary Goals and Potential Budget Changes Since the City of Louisville continues to be ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States, there are many things we should not change. However, developing the annual budget creates the opportunity to ask, "If we were starting the City from scratch, what would we do differently?" With this overall approach iin mind, the management team will discuss their preliminary goals and potential budget changes for 2009. In order to accomplish the City Council's highest priorities in 2009 within the resources we have available, as we go through the budget process, we will need to categorize these proposal the following "lists": The "To Stop Doing" list The "To Do Differently" list The "To Do" list Potential Sources of New Revenue With rare exceptions, it is possible to do things either faster, better or cheaper, but it's not possible to achieve all of those things at once. If the additional capacity provided by the "Stop Doing" and "Do Differently" lists is not enough to support new activities the Council is interested in, it will be necessary to identify ways to increase existing revenue sources or establish new sources of revenue. During the study session we will brainstorm possibilities, including the following: • Increasing the Lodging Tax • Utility Rate Increase (only for utility related purposes) • Trash Collection Administrative fee (only for related expenditures, but may offset some expenses that are currently funded through the General Fund). • Business License Fees (only for related expenditures, but may offset some expenses that are currently funded through the General Fund). • Use Tax (not available until 2010, if ever) • Other possibilities Budget Calendar So we can all plan for the key dates and stages in the budget process, staff will discuss with Council the proposed calendar highlighting all of the key meeting dates and major milestones in the budget process. FISCAL IMPACT: None at this point. Staff will develop the proposed 2009 Budget for Council consideration.