PORT ANGELES — The City Council will seek public input Tuesday on what Port Angeles residents see as the most — and least — important city services.
The meeting, part of preparing a 2016 budget, will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
The session is part of a priority setting process to ensure the city’s limited resources are spent on the most important programs and services, City Manager Dan McKeen said Friday.
Overall costs are rising an average of 3 percent to 3.5 percent annually, city officials said.
That figure factors in Bonneville Power Administration utility costs that rise 7 percent to 10 percent every two years and labor and employee benefit costs that increase 2 percent to 4 percent annually.
Byron Olson, city chief financial officer, said Friday the city can always raise fees and rates — but that’s not the real issue.
“Whether the citizens can afford them is the critical key,” Olson said.
Olson said a 2014 affordability index showed that the city’s fees and utility rates are comparable to 15 other cities of similar size and population in Western Washington.
“What it really showed, though, is the income level in Port Angeles is substantially below the average,” Olson said.
“We don’t really think there is much, if any, room to raise those [fees and rates] other than to cover the most basic cost increases that we’ve got,” Olson said.
He added that in terms of property taxes, “we are almost at the maximum levy rate allowed by the state” without exceeding the 1 percent limit that would require voters’ approval.
At a workshop Tuesday, city department heads were asked to determine their lowest priorities in programs, services and positions.
“By each department identifying their lowest priority, if they had to make a reduction, hopefully it will help identify those things that are truly lowest-priority items,” McKeen said.
“Some of the lowest-priority items are fairly high-priority items for the city,” he added.
The department heads outlined four or five lowest-priority programs and services for potential reduction and at least one personnel reduction or elimination in each department.
The suggestions include a $46,350 cut in health and human services funding, a $153,200 cut in the broadband program while also privatizing it and eliminating the domestic violence victim assistance program.
They also include eliminating the city’s $15,000 contribution to the Clallam County Economic Development Council, the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society services agreement, a part-time parking enforcement officer and a patrol officer position.
The suggested lowest priorities and the method by which the 2016 priorities will be set are outlined at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-priorities.
Council members will meet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 24 at City Hall to ask final questions of staff.
Council members will analyze priorities and score them individually from zero to 4 in categories of public demand, the mandate to provide the program or service, how it relates to each individual department’s core mission and alternative service providers for the program or service.
The score cards are due March 30.
The public will have a second opportunity for input on city services at the regular City Council meeting that begins at 6 p.m. June 16 at City Hall.
Council members will adopt priorities for the 2016 budget July 7.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
