Proposed budget avoids tax hikes, maintains services

Expense juggling within Pasco's 2010 budget means eliminating two police positions but likely adding staff to the city fire department and municipal court.

The Pasco City Council reviewed its proposed $30 million 2010 operating budget for the first time during Monday's workshop.

It does not appear that the city will need to raise property taxes or cut services to balance the budget, said Mayor Joyce Olson.

"We are in a much better position than many other cities," she said.

City staff described the budget as holding the line.

If passed, 2010 will be the first time in 15 years that the city has used the reserves to balance the budget, said Gary Crutchfield, city manager. The proposed budget uses $700,000 of the $6 million in reserves.

The city experienced a larger drop in revenue this year than expected, he said. A 16 percent drop in sales tax revenue amounted to a $1.2 million loss.

Two police officers were budgeted for this year but weren't hired to cut costs, said Pasco Police Chief Denis Austin. The police department has 67 commissioned officers and 11 civilians who respond to about 57,000 service calls a year.

Overall, the police budget is down about $56,000, despite a $100,000 increase in the cost of dispatch services.

Still, the department will do its best to reduce crime, Austin said.

The fire department will add about 1.5 positions and reduce some nonstaff costs, said Bob Gear, city fire chief.

The department will not replace a retired assistant fire chief, he said. Instead, a part-time secretary position will become full time, and a safety and training specialist and an emergency medical services paramedic lieutenant will be added.

The EMS paramedic lieutenant will ensure paramedics stay updated on training and certification requirements, Gear said.

The department's budget, both fire and ambulance combined, will be about $182,000 more in 2010.

City staff suggested adding a clerk to municipal court to handle the increased caseload, Crutchfield said. The department's budget will be about $60,000 higher in 2010, in part from the added position, and the rest from increased costs.

The council will hold a public hearing on the budget Dec. 7, continue deliberations Dec. 14 and vote on it Dec. 21.

Also Monday:

w The council discussed a $27,000 contract with Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs for lobbying services in Olympia from Nov. 1 through June 2010. In the last five years, the city has received about $8 million in state grants. The receipt of at least one of those grants can be attributed to the lobbyists' work, Crutchfield said.

w Public Works Director Bob Alberts suggested the council consider hiring HDR Engineering of Nebraska to assist with the start-up of the new west Pasco water treatment plant, which will use technology unfamiliar to city employees. The contract would cost about $26,500.

w The council discussed buying 11 acres north of the current water treatment facility for $300,000. Alberts said the land would serve the city's future waste water needs.