Council keeps parks, PSAP and fee-funded EMS insurance lines separate from general-fund changes

Council members examined how shifting insurance contributions would affect levies and reserve balances for the parks and for fee-funded services such as PSAP and EMS. Members noted that moving budgeted part-time and receivable-backed items could shift levies if done by re-budgeting, while leaving the lines and handling group insurance via an additional appropriation in March could avoid levy changes.

"Which means that we have them pay it in an additional appropriation in March, not budgeted over there?" asked one council member (speaker 5) while discussing how to avoid affecting levy rates. The council agreed by consensus in multiple turns to leave self-funded lines in place and to use one-time appropriations where necessary, rather than re-budgeting amounts that would change levy calculations.

The EMS fund balance was reviewed in detail (reported as $40,490.07 by one participant) and members discussed the upcoming ambulance contract with the city for 2027'28; several members flagged that the EMS receivable model makes the fund a moving target and advised monitoring before making structural changes.