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The city of Kelso will reduce funding for the library to help close a projected budget shortfall. Daily News file photo

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With tax revenue down, Kelso tightens its belt

Monday, October 27, 2008 4:18 PM PDT

By Amy M.E. Fischer

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The city of Kelso is slashing its street paving budget and laying off a full-time library employee to balance the budget for the next two years.

The city also will cut back its part-time help and leave three vacant positions unfilled, according to Finance Director Brian Butterfield.

"We’re not living large by any stretch, but I think we’re getting through it with what we can," Mayor David Futcher said.

At a budget workshop last week, the City Council added roughly $100,000 in expenditures to each year of the 2009-10 preliminary budget because city staff originally had budgeted for only one police captain position instead of two, Butterfield said. Staff had anticipated that one of the two captains would be promoted to chief after Chief Wayne Nelson retires in March and were told one captain position would remain vacant, he said.

However, the police guild asked that the chief appointment be delayed until after a city manager is hired because guild members didn’t think proper selection procedures had been followed.

Former City Manager Paul Brachvogel, whose last day was Friday to take a job as Cowlitz PUD attorney, was doing double-duty as the city attorney. Butterfield said the city doesn’t have money in the budget to pay an city attorney’s salary and probably will contract out legal work as needed. According to a recent salary survey, cities with 8,000 to 15,000 residents pay their attorneys an average of $105,000 a year plus benefits, he said.

Brachvogel earned $132,596 this year.

The preliminary budget must be filed by Nov. 1, after which a public budget hearing will be held.

KELSO’S FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

General fund projections

2008 — $7.2 million

2009 — $7.3 million

2010 — $7.36 million

Projected sales tax revenues

• 2007 $2.16 million*    +6%

• 2008 $2.05 million      -5%

• 2009 $1.95 million      -5%

• 2010 $2.1 million       +6%

*Actual

PROPOSED CUTS TO THE 2009-10 BUDGET

City government

Between $8,000 and $10,000 cut for part-time help in engineering department; $2,500 cut for part- time help in community development

Public works

Requested $1 million for pavement overlays in 2009; will receive $105,000 in 2009, $60,000 in 2010

The public works department normally gets $225,000 annually, but Public Works Director David Sypher requested $900,000 to catch up on paving projects for 2009. This means the department will be able to do only basic repairs rather than paving streets. Sypher said he is looking into funding from other sources such as bonds or public works trust fund loans.

Library

$50,000 cut from budget (about 12 percent)

In 2007, the City Council allocated funding to hire an additional full-time employee and a part-time position. Those positions will be cut. Also, the library budget for new materials has been reduced from $40,000 to $35,000 a year.

Previous Next

agro_vader wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:59 AM:

" Maybe cuts should start from top to bottom rather than the other way around. Take a little chunk out of the top payed city officials. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:31 AM:

" Kelso leaders should take a look at their own salaries, and make some cuts there. I'd wager one librarian does more good for the community in a single day...than they do in a year. "

Rural Citizen wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Make me the third to say that everyone in the city should take a cut of the required percentage and leave the library alone. Also, WHAT paving program? Kelso hasn't been PAVED since the 1920's.

Cutting the library is VERY MEAN SPIRITED. It says you hate the people and their children can go elsewhere for learning. "

Atrucker wrote on Oct 27, 2008 11:36 AM:

" Hey old Denny is still getting $ 82.00 an hour , whats wrong with this picture. ? And you still prefer to screw the public out of the library, such as it is it sucks any way. You could join timberland regional library. It has very good resources, over and above any thing Kelso has . You can check out up to 200 items . try that at Kelso library. "

Buford McGee wrote on Oct 27, 2008 11:38 AM:

" Only makes sense to reduce hours or close the library. Advances in technology are making it obsolete. Go by sometime. There is no one using it. "

country gal wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:09 PM:

" This is where all revenues are going! And you wonder why most businesses and taxpayers fail to pay taxes. It's mindboggling how the 'politicians' have the gall to say this is what they're worth? Do we really need all of these 'politicians'? Time to stand up and say "Hey, take a paycut!" or "Get a job"! "

Louie wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:20 PM:

" The same thing is happening in Longview...disgraceful. Cuts should come from other places, like city employees, as the library is an asset to the community especially now that people should cut their spending and find other roads of gratification. Libraries can fill such a need if given a chance and some hype instead of cuts. "

LV1963 wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:22 PM:

" Very Sad---These ladies are hard working and very dedicated. I'm sure there was something that could be done to decrease BIG salaries and keep another person at the library.... "

tally ho wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:29 PM:

" Re: Buford - I don't know what library you're going to but it isn't Kelso. I am a frequent user of the library and I have never gone in without there being several at the computers and others going through the stacks. I agree with those that say the top paid officials should take pay cuts and leave the employees at the library as is, they're needed and they're all well liked and very helpful. I think Kelso is fortunate to have this library, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. "

horsetails wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:58 PM:

" Just think...they get to make you dumber and also take your money so you are not smart enough to know that they are taking your money. Think about that one. There are no more politcal parties, only pirates. "

luke the drifter wrote on Oct 27, 2008 2:25 PM:

" The Destination Based Salex tax is going to put a hurting on local cities' budgets. Anything shipped out of the cities has the tax revenue going to the city or county it ends up in. That's a big chunk of money gone from local cities and into counties and other cities' coffers. "

coco wrote on Oct 27, 2008 5:09 PM:

" i agree cuts should come from the top, not the bottom. people use the library keep the the staff intact, people dont care about the top dogs--heh why not cut down on building and planning inspectors since building is toast...or do like longview and raise everyones apraisal to more than their homes could sell for -- thats a great revenue getter. "

speak into the microphone wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:27 PM:

" Shame on you David Sypher! "

rest of the story wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:40 PM:

" Libraries are out dated. Just about all
they offer can be had on line. Longview and Kelso could save alot of coin if they shut them down. "

pearl wrote on Oct 27, 2008 10:06 PM:

" books will be ROUND WHEN COMPUTERES ARE GONE. "

grrrowl wrote on Oct 28, 2008 12:16 AM:

" Libraries are not obsolete, and they provide a valuable service to the community. You know, not everyone has a computer. Yeah, a lot of information you can find on the internet for free, but e-books and audio books still cost a lot of money. Not to mention reading books for leisure on a computer seriously kills my eyes. "

clamdipper wrote on Oct 28, 2008 8:48 AM:

" Cut the fire dept. 20 paramedics sitting around watching AMR take care of business. Most of those medics left AMR to suck on the big fire dept. budget and score a nice pay raise and retirement! "

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