In my opinion the move to a even year cycle, is a net positive for the city. The first benefit is the obvious reduction in cost to the city. I tend to believe that the actual cost savings are probably a bit less than the $15,000 dollar amount that gets thrown around, but I think that we have conversely underestimated the savings in staff's time dedicated to the administration of municipal elections. I don't agree, nor do I believe I have ever said, that the elections are a 'wasted expense'. Rather, the impetus for this change was to make the process better and more efficient.

The example of the fiberglass animals, I would contend, does more to refute your claims of government waste and of unchecked power run amok. The fact is that the animals were funded primarily by two sources: a state transit grant and private donations. There were some direct costs to the city, mostly in the form of labor, that were minimal. I would also submit that the council stood in opposition to some of the processes by which the project came about. Without putting word's in the Mayor's mouth, I would assert that he would not agree with the idea that the council simply allowed him to do what he wanted, most likely the opposite is true.

Back to the election... We also have to remember that these decisions do not exist in a moral vacuum, and must be made in a pragmatic way for the benefit of the community. The extension of terms, voted on by the citizens of East Grand Forks, while arguably not the ideal path, can be offset by an increased voter turnout in future elections. The Ward 1 voter increase from last year's election was about 30%, which is a great sign for continuing electoral participation.

The proudest now is but my peer,

The highest not more high;

Today, of all the weary year,

A king of men am I.

Today, alike the great and small,

The nameless and the known;

My palace is the people's hall,

The ballot-box my throne!

Who serves today upon the list

Beside the served shall stand;

Alike the brown and wrinkled fist,

The gloved and dainty hand!

The rich is level with the poor,

The weak is strong today;

And sleekest broadcloth counts know more

The homespun frock of gray.

Today let pomp and vain pretense

My stubborn right abide;

I set a plain man's common sense

Against the pendant's pride.

Today shall simple manhood try

The strengthen of gold and land;

The wide world has not wealth to buy

The power in my right hand!

While there's grief to set redress,

Or balance to adjust,

Where weighs our living manhood less

Than Mammon's vilest dust-

While there's a right to need my vote,

A wrong to sweep away,

Up! clouted knee and ragged coat!

A man's a man today!

• We have been operating under the assumption that our general fund reserves are in good shape (42%) as reccomended by the MN State Auditor (38% - 50%) at of the end of 2007. We assume that that fund will be at roughly the same level at the completion of the 2008 fiscal year.
• Our estimated share of Local Government Aid for 2009 will be $3,113,000, which is a $165,000 (5.6%) increase over the 2008 amount. Tied to that increase is the State mandated property tax levy increase limit of $109,672 (4%).
• Major projected expenditures include:

• Summary of projected expenditures by objective and type:

• Summary of projected revenue sources:

• The preliminary budget deficit as of today is approximately $162,000.

With these figures in mind, it is my goal, and I believe that of the Council, to maintain an adequate fund reserve, ensure that our capital maintenence funding is at par with need, and that we do not incur deficit spending.

The Council has just begun the formal budgeting process for 2009, and will continue to have open work sessions focused on budgeting with the following schedule:

Wednesday, October 29: Water & Light, Police, Fire, Capital Improvements

Wednesday, November 5: Parks & Recreation, Library, EDHA, Administration & Finance

Thursday, November 10: Resolution Introduction

Tuesday, November 18: Resolution Adoption

All meetings will be held at 5:00pm in the City Hall Training Room with the Exception of the November 18th Regular Meeting which will be held at 5:00pm in the Council Chambers.