PORT TOWNSEND — The City Council has unanimously approved a $28,952,606 budget for 2012 that includes a projected $644,000 in revenue from a levy lid lift voters approved by only eight votes.
The council and staff acknowledged Monday that the city’s financial management is a work in progress.
“There are still a lot of issues we need to resolve with the budget,” said City Manager David Timmons at Monday’s meeting.
“I suggest we pass it and use it as a framework to the amount and then resolve those issues through individual resolutions throughout the year.”
Issues that will require further discussion include the maintenance and repair of the Mountain View swimming pool, maintenance of the equipment rental fund and whether the city should budget for sewer and maintenance repairs or if it should deal with them as they occur.
The levy lid lift that was approved in November for support of fire and emergency services in Port Townsend passed by 2,098 votes, or 50.10 percent approving it, to 2,090 votes, or 49.90 percent rejecting it.
Timmons suggested several measures to make the budget process “more user-friendly.”
He recommended producing an “executive summary” of the budget that explains the expenditures in simple language for the public.
The summary, characterized by Timmons as “a pared-down Reader’s Digest version,” would be made available on the city’s website, www.cityofpt.us.
It was decided that he would prepare it and offer it to the council at next Monday’s meeting.
Deputy Mayor George Randels said the user-friendly idea could be expanded to include all budget documents.
“The David Timmonses and [City Finance Director] Mike Legarskys of the world look at these budget documents and understand them because it is part of their jobs, but many members of the public look at them and say, ‘Huh?,’” Randels said.
“Maybe we should have a designated lay person check out each of the documents before they are released to the public, and if you get a ‘huh?’ then it could get some further explanation.”
Timmons also suggested that the Council Finance and Budget Committee, which now includes three council members, be expanded to include all members of the council.
“If we have all the members of the council assembled as a whole all the members will become more familiar with city budget and finances,” Timmons said.
“It could be a council work session in a round-table format, which would make it easier to reconcile budget priorities.”
The expanded budget committee could meet on a quarterly basis, Timmons said.
City Council Member Catharine Robinson liked the idea, saying that it would help the entire council focus on the budget for the entire year “rather than just waiting until November.”
Mayor Michelle Sandoval and City Councilmen Mark Welch and David King comprise the current budget committee.
Sandoval said she did not favor increasing the size of the committee permanently.
While expressing optimism about the city’s continued financial health, Timmons cautioned against “false positive” indicators that make it appear that the economy is turning around but is then contradicted by negative news.
“We’ve turned the corner,” Timmons said.
“We’ve made some tough decisions, and the staff has made some personal and professional sacrifices to get to where we are.
“For that, we owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who is working for the city.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
