The regularly scheduled Monday, June 4 Oakdale City Council meeting has been moved back a day to Tuesday, June 5, at 7 p.m. due to a lack of a quorum.

Likely to be on the agenda will be continued discussion on the city’s budget troubles.

Wednesday night, May 30, city officials revealed several options for the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget at a public workshop in the council chambers.

Over the past few years the condition of the city’s general fund has worsened due to sluggish revenue generation and growth in expenditures, primarily employee costs.  Even though the city has reduced its budget spending, it has not been sufficient to offset the shortfalls.

At the meeting, city officials proposed plans to bolster finances including salary reductions, personnel cutbacks, and having employees pay full portions of pension costs and health benefit expenditures. The city acknowledged that some of the proposals would have to be accepted by its unions.

Council members also expressed an interest in limiting employee vacation and sick leave totals since payouts have cost the city over $1 million since 2008.

Interim City Manager Greg Wellman projected that the Measure O Sales Tax initiative that passed last November will bring in $1.2 million for the next three years. Council members emphasized that the funds would be used for public safety and the senior center as was promised to voters.

Other proposals for budget reconciliation included selling city properties and consolidation of management positions.

Officials pointed out that the workshop was the basis for discussions on potential ideas to assist the city as it looks to overcome its financial hardship.

For more about the budget workshop, look to the June 6 edition of The Leader.