Council continues work on revenue options and School Resource Officer funding; staff to prepare options and potential ballot timing

City administration updated council Wednesday on ongoing work to evaluate revenue options for core city services and the question of cost‑sharing for School Resource Officer (SRO) positions.

City staff summarized recent financial analysis (salary survey, workload analysis, municipal financial plan) showing the city remains understaffed and faces limited discretionary general‑fund options. Staff said general-fund reductions would affect police, parks and municipal administration; consultants have advised that finance and core service staffing levels are already thin and that further cuts could present legal and operational risk.

On SRO funding, staff provided background materials including sample interlocal agreements between cities and school districts. The administration said SROs are classified as patrol officers under the city salary table: when school is not in session (for example, summer months) the officer converts to general patrol duty. The city currently shares a percentage of SRO salary through the property-tax levy; staff said precise annual cost depends on the officer’s step on the collective‑bargaining salary table and annual COLA adjustments under the police association agreement.

Councilmembers asked for further information: several asked staff to estimate the impact of potential sales-tax increases on a typical household, and one asked for a per-household estimate of likely revenue. Staff said a municipal consultant would be required to model tax options and that the timeline for placing a ballot measure depends on the council’s target (August primary, November general) and on the city’s ability to secure a consultant and assemble a campaign package. Staff said decisions would need to be made by May for an August placement and by mid‑summer for the November ballot.

Staff also described administrative measures it will pursue before recommending ballot measures: a prioritization exercise for council to identify services to protect or cut, a potential procurement of the state auditor’s Lean Services assistance (to examine internal process efficiencies), and a municipal financial plan and workload analysis to present to council ahead of any ballot decision.

Ending: Staff will prepare a prioritized information packet and a procurement timeline for a consultant; council expects additional work sessions and a retreat discussion before final decisions on ballot measures or specific tax options.