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7 <br /> 18 <br /> spending it on the front end, or spending on the back end, as the fund balance always seems <br /> to get fed back in to the next budget. He said if the balance is moved to 16.2%, then next year <br /> there will be $1 million to reduce taxes or spend. He asked if there is a million dollars savings <br /> in the first year only, or every year going forward. <br /> Gary Donaldson said the fund balance is appropriated. <br /> Chair McKee clarified that the fund balance is only appropriated down to 17%. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said yes. <br /> Gary Donalson said after the fund balance is appropriated, a projection is done in terms <br /> of how that metric aligns with the policy. He said this exercise happens each year. <br /> Chair McKee said he still does not understand an answer to his original question as to <br /> whether there will be savings every year. <br /> Gary Donaldson said there will be revenues and expenditures every year, and there <br /> has always been an appropriation of some level of fund balance. He said there is a target <br /> percentage that will be adhered to, and there will be a continuing savings every year. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said the $1 million will not seem like a lot going forward, and it <br /> will not stretch as far in the years to come. She said there will always be more requests and <br /> additional monies needed. <br /> Chair McKee said his reservation is simple: he fears that the Board is doing the <br /> standard government tactic of grasping for more money to spend. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said it will be a million more dollars of services that the Board <br /> will be able to provide, and that is the Board's job. She said there are needs for which more <br /> money must be grasped. <br /> Commissioner Rich said the excess money will be worked into the new budget, and the <br /> Board will spend the money up front rather than at the end of the budget. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs agreed with Chair McKee. He said government spending is like <br /> an accordion that expands and contracts, depending on external pressures or political will. He <br /> said the more easily it can expand, the more likely money is going to be spent. He said the <br /> only way to deal with that is to be rigorous in discussion and understanding of the burden of <br /> taxation. <br /> Chair McKee said he would be comfortable with a half percent drop. He said when <br /> working in government, one can never know what tomorrow will bring, and he would prefer to <br /> have a rainy day account. He would not want to see a pattern develop where the fund balance <br /> gets lowered every few years. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs asked if there is consensus on 16.2%. <br /> Chair McKee said he heard no objection and asked if staff could bring this item back in <br /> November. <br /> 4. Adjournment <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Rich seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to <br /> adjourn the meeting at 10:26 p.m. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Earl McKee, Chair <br /> Donna Baker <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />