Vote on West Richland budget planned

Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer

West Richland is looking to adopt today a nearly balanced budget that avoids layoffs, but also has no spare change for new hires.

A $13.3 million budget has been proposed for 2010.

A public hearing is set for the 7 p.m. meeting in city council chambers, followed by a scheduled vote.

Finance Director Joe Potts said he is doing "everything I can to balance it out." He said some issues may need to be revisited today since council members Julie Jones and Ken Dobbin were both absent from a recent town hall meeting on the preliminary budget.

The total general fund as proposed is $5.4 million, with $4.5 million of it for operational costs. The fund covers most city departments like finance, building and planning, but about half of it consistently goes to police, Potts said.

Potts had to do some adjustments this past week after discussion about reducing the base water rate by 50 cents, dropping it back to the 2008 level. That will mean about $6,000 less revenue for the water department and therefore less taxes paid to the general fund from the department, he said.

However, the city also is considering raising the consumption rate.

In the end, Potts said he is looking at trying to find other places in the budget to make up for about $3,000 so the budget will stay balanced.

The recent town hall meeting including a spirited discussion about the City Hall marquee and whether residents actually turn to the lighted billboard for news and events. Completing replacing the antiquated sign and its computer system will run $28,000, according to the proposed budget.

Councilman Rich Buel said he uses the marquee to check the time and temperature when he drives by. Otherwise he said he turns to the city's website for up-to-date information.

Councilman Tony Benegas also questioned its importance in the computer age.

Gail Brown agreed with her council colleague but pointed out that the sign also is used by the library.

"It helps out the community in advertising different events throughout the city, not just how hot it is," she said.

A consensus was reached to include the money but to approach the Mid-Columbia Libraries and other organizations about chipping in money for using the sign.

The budget proposal also calls for $20,000 to the first phase of the Van Giesen Renaissance effort to improve and redevelop the pivotal city corridor.

Councilman Merle Johnson had suggested removing it from the city's budget and leaving it to the care of the West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce.

Brown disagreed, saying the city needs to keep more control and should handle any plans for economic development.

"Our canvas doesn't look so good," said Buel, noting abandoned shops and other problems along the main street.

"Van Giesen has to look better, it has to. We've heard that over and over again and I'm in favor of making that happen," he added, supporting keeping the $20,000 in the budget. "We've got to get that doorstep welcoming."

To help the chamber, West Richland should "invest in them and let them be more entrenched in businesses," Johnson countered. "... If Van Giesen is going to get cleaned up, it is going to get cleaned up by businesses and not by this council. The canvas is set."

A majority of the council also agreed to keep the city administrator position in the 2010 budget.

Dave Weiser stepped into the position in April 2008. His 2009 adopted salary was $96,600, with a nearly 2.5 percent increase proposed to bring it up to $99,000 next year.

The total city administrator budget is set for $137,700, which also includes insurance, travel, personnel benefits, vacation cash-out and training.

Mayor-elect Donna Noski said in her campaign that she plans to eliminate the city administrator position because she will be on the job full time.

But last week, sitting Mayor Dale Jackson told the board that he's found it doesn't work in other cities when the position has been removed.

"I think it's a legislative decision as to whether or not to operate" with a city administrator, Jackson said. Failing to budget for the manager position would be making "a de facto choice."

Benegas, Buel and Mark Hanneman all spoke up in favor of a city administrator.

The city's proposed property tax levy is $1.62 per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $162 a year for a $100,000 home.

The city's entire budget document can be viewed under the link "2010 Proposed Preliminary Budget -- 11-02-2009" on the home page of the city's website, www.westrichland.org.

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Monday, Nov. 16, 2009

Vote on West Richland budget planned

Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer