PORT TOWNSEND — City Council members face tough decisions this year as they face declining revenues City Manager David Timmons warns.
“Bottom line, we have reached the bottom line for general fund services,: Timmons told the council members at Monday’s first 2007 budget work session.
“Unless some action to cut programs is made or an increase in sustainable revenues are put into place in 2007, by 2008 the city will have no options to maintain general fund services.”
The only revenue relief could come in the way of utility tax increases or an excise tax, but that decision rests with the City Council, Timmons said.
Timmons said the realities causing the revenue slump include:
* A housing market slowdown.
* Flat retail sales tax revenues.
* Crumbling streets.
* A 30 percent increase in police calls this year over last.
* Increasing demands on parks and library services that cannot be staffed at needed levels.
Also as a result, Timmons said, there are $1.3 million in positions and services that are not funded in the budget but that “could be easily justified.”
They include two full-time police patrol officers at about $200,000 in annual salaries, benefits and training, an annual emergency 9-1-1 dispatch payment to the county of $50,000, a parks manager at $80,000 annually, a full-time parks maintenance person at $50,000 annually, pool maintenance at $20,000 a year, a facilities maintenance position at $45,000 a year, street maintenance totaling $200,000 for the year, and capital contributions of $300,000 for the year.
Other positions unfunded
Also unfunded is a library position at $80,000 annually and PTTV/City Hall technology totaling $60,000.
A Development Services Department position is also being cut to balance in response to lost building permit activity, he said.
“If you ask us to cut the budget, our initial response would be that it already has been,” Timmons told the City Council.
