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Longview council to hold public hearing on new budget

Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:16 AM PST

By Amy M.E. Fischer

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The city of Longview will raise fees and cut employees to fill a $2 million budget gap, but even in these austere times the city also plans to increase tree-planting, build a Highlands-area trail and start sprucing up R.A. Long Park in front of the Monticello Hotel.

The plans are laid out in the city’s proposed 2009-2010 preliminary budget, which is the focus of a public hearing at Thursday night’s City Council meeting.

To plug the budget hole projected for each of the next two years, the council has decided to raise fees for business licenses and rental licenses as well as temporarily increase utility taxes. The council also has agreed to lay off three public library employees and reduce library hours, slash police and fire department overtime and cut back on street and park maintenance.

On Dec. 12, the City Council is expected to formally adopt the two-year budget, which totals $212.7 million.

The recommended budget reduces the amount put aside for future building maintenance and replacement and cuts employee benefits and office equipment reserves.

This would postpone some building improvements, hold vacant positions open and limit the city’s ability to buy new information equipment and software. The council also has decided not to fund police overtime for events such as the Fourth of July celebration at Lake Sacajawea, the KLOG car cruise and the YMCA Teen Night.

To increase revenues, business license fees would rise from $20 to $50 a year and residential rental license fees, which haven’t been adjusted since 1938, would increase from $1 per unit to $12 per year. Utility taxes (for water, sewer, stormwater and garbage service) will rise from 7 percent to 9.5 percent for the next two years. The tax will revert to 7 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.

Despite the budget gap, a handful of projects would receive new or increased funding:

• Increasing spending for street tree planting from $20,000 a year to $30,000. The city has been removing more big, aging trees than it has replaced with younger ones since the beginning of the decade. That’s “not an appropriate trend for a long-time Tree City USA designated jurisdiction like Longview,” city officials noted in the budget document.

• $84,500 to hire a uniformed police officer to work exclusively in the crime-plagued Highlands neighborhood, which the city is determined to revitalize.

• $250,000 for the first phase of the Industrial Way Trail in the Highlands. The money will cover an unpaved off-street bicycle and pedestrian path from Oregon Way to 26th Avenue. In the future, the trail could be extended, asphalted, landscaped and lighted.

• $100,000 to begin renovating R.A. Long Park in the center of Longview’s Historic Civic Center. The city plans to undertake a community discussion about the many changes that could be made, beginning with repairs and improving access to the plaza area. One goal might be to make the park more attractive and suitable for special community events, according to city documents.

• $70,000 to resurface Archie Anderson Park’s basketball court.

• $50,000 to replace “badly deteriorated” restrooms at Vandercook Park.

The council’s 7 p.m. meeting is upstairs at Longview City Hall, at the corner of 15th Avenue and Broadway.

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Mrs. Pellwerds wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:31 AM:

" They are going to increase my utility rate to build a $250K dirt trail that already exists!?! I don't think so. Either the council people have never been to to the Highlands to see the trail there, or this money is going to be diverted to some other special interest. I can see the headline now...Columbia Theater gets $250K more from City. "

scratch007 wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:54 AM:

" It should not be hard for the county to cut 2 mil. in expenses... The county overpays everyone for the work they do... especially their head secretaries! "

rocketdad wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:06 AM:

" Well, at least Longview's first move is not "Lets cut the police department because times are tough"..Castle Rock should take a cue from this... "

pangborn wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:57 AM:

" 2mil shortfall... bull. Roll back the budget by 3 mil and you got a million dollar surplus.
Cut taxes and lower the wages of all the overpaid city workers.

Problem solved. "

Viewpoint wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:59 AM:

" Save the $350,000 from the RA Long Park project (which is not situated for anyone to safely use) and asphalting the Highlands Trail, and put some of it back in to rehiring the library staff. At least employees will recycle the money back into the community. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:58 PM:

" Seems to me that salary cuts should be considered, starting at the very top. Hey, it's tough but giving a little should be required in these times. Might be a good time for the TDN to publish the salaries of the top-level employees. Sorry people but the top levels of government, be it federal, state, county or city, should lose some salary before these types of problems are pushed off onto the citizens or taxpayers. Perhaps only the fire and police departments should be exempt but I would like to see the salaries first. "

Lucky7 wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:02 PM:

" Another example of out of touch government. Business license, business utility tax INCREASES, etc., etc., etc..... Increasing fees on businesses that are already teetering IS NOT the answer in a recession. Yes we are in a recession whether our current government wants to declare it or not! The city needs to tighten their belt right now just like the rest of us and keep fees down. Since August I've unfortunatley had to lay off over 30% of my workforce in my small company and it's not over yet. It's not fun, it is necessary and if things don't improve in the next couple of months it may not be enough to keep my doors open. I broke even in September, lost money in October and November is even looking worse. November is shaping up to be my worst sales month since I went into business nearly 20 years ago. This economic situation is getting down right depressing! "

semper wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:50 PM:

" "Not an appropriate trend for a long-time Tree City USA designated jurisdiction"...oh my we have come a long way haven't we. How about we cut the crap-trail to the Highlands, please give me a break I thought that is what sidewalks are for.. no wait that is so brave souls can walk on Industrial Way and hope they aren't run over by a car or log truck. What brain has devised this suicide method? Our city council needs replaced...RA Long Park at the "historic civic center". Let's get to the basics we need, not waste like this! Better times are ahead, let's do the 'frilly stuff' then. "

crowsfeet wrote on Nov 19, 2008 3:43 PM:

" Start your contingency thinking on how your going to maintain this place when the crap really hits the fan. The fan is running and the crap approaches. "

tvstad wrote on Nov 19, 2008 3:57 PM:

" There is $470000. that could be saved to offset the "budget". TDN, how about getting ahold of the budget and publishing it so that the tax payers can see what our elected officials are budgeting for. My tax dollars could be used in more useful ways that walking paths, dog parks, etc.... "

Scot Heisel, TDN wrote on Nov 19, 2008 5:22 PM:

" The proposed budget is about 100 pages long. Copies are available at City Hall for the public. We'll look into providing a copy on our site, but that may not be feasible. "

Viewpoint wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:58 PM:

" These days it is nothing to put a 100 page PDF on a website. State agencies do it all the time. Both the cities and the county should be doing it routinely. "

country gal wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:05 PM:

" The proposed budget is about 100 pages looooong! No wonder we're in deficit! "

RAL Alum wrote on Nov 20, 2008 7:32 AM:

" I don't disagree that some of the top level officials should take some sort of pay cut. If nothing else, do it as a good faith gesture to the people you are representing. My concern would be how do you determine who should have to take a cut? "

Lucky7 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:26 AM:

" In the private sector it's really easy! As a business owner I cut my wages 30% October 1, then in Novemeber while patiently waiting a for one of my largest accounts to pay their slightly past due account I don't take a paycheck and still work more than a full week and pay my employees. So you see it's really simple how the private sector cuts back. We don't have a choice! Fortunatley I could probably survive 6-8 months and keep a few employees working without totally going broke, but this is shaping up to be a much more severe downturn than anything we've seen. So for me I've already decided we'll take a look at things after the first of the year and if there's not too much hope of an economic rebound in 09 it could be time to cut my losses and plan to sell or shut down. I'm sure I'm not the only small business in this situation. For any business owner in a recession it's a really tough decision on how long to keep going. If the city choseses to make it more difficult for us by increaseing fees for the businesses that help them survive in times like this it's just not very smart! "

country gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:47 AM:

" I agree with TDN Bad Boy. Instead of raising business fees and whatever, the City Council need to consider taking a pay cut along with the other 'politicians'. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:06 AM:

" RAL Alum, well if you are going to cut the budget of a department wouldn't that be a good way to determine which top-level official should get a pay cut? I would say that cuts for the mayor and council members should be mandatory. They approved the budget in the first place. That's their job and obviously they fail. You can take the salary cuts right down the ladder from there depending on which departments get cut. The percentage a department gets cut should also play a role in the percentage of pay cut. Seriously though I don't we will ever hear pay cuts being discussed. Why would the council think of cutting their pay when they can cut jobs, people, and services? "

country gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 9:59 AM:

" If I lived in Longview, I'd be there at the hearing giving them a mouthful. The more people there the better. These selfish arrogant greedy politicians need to know that they're the ones that are being a burden to us taxpayers. Remind them also who they're working for. No more raising fees and taxes. It's time for them to take a paycut. "

mwallin wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:32 AM:

" Council does not set their own pay, a citizens salary commission does. The pay of the council is very little anyhow, considering the amount of work they do. "

Lucky7 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:45 AM:

" Country Gal - No disrespect meant but the city council doesn't listen to citizens or business owners. I've been that route and went to a couple of meetings several years back and they made it pretty clear I was blowing hot air and wasting their time. "

skeezix wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:32 PM:

" Bad Boy...I take it you're not very high on the pay scale? Think about what you're saying... It isn't the salaries that are the problem, it's the economy. Any form of government is funded by tax revenues. The budgets of municipalities, states, etc., are developed on the "expected" revenues coming in. As the economy turns down, less revenue is taken in as there is less consumer spending taking place. Cutting salaries does not correct that problem. I'm not saying that salaries should not be looked at. It would be wise to at the very least freeze them. Your solution seems to be that if someone is making more than you do, they should have their salary cut. There are likely many areas that can be cut elsewhere. Some services curtailed, etc. Problem is, no matter the decision, someone will complain about it and complaining for complaining sake has never brougt resolution to anything. "

country gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:33 PM:

" mwallin: The salary that I read the other day, the pay is little considering the work they do? Sorry, I disagree. Also, citizens salary commission? Who are they? Are they being paid by us taxpayers, too? Lucky7: I'm truly sorry that happened. Somehow, if all businesses and citizens got together and voiced their matter to them all at the same time, surely they would have to listen. You can't give up. Fight for YOUR American dream. "

Lucky7 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:12 PM:

" Country gal brings up a good issue... The American Dream! I think 99.9% of americans are in the process of adjusting that dream right now. For many today the dream is to feed their children or be able to purchase their medications, keep a roof over their family's heads. Anyone truly believe Longview Fibre will still be running 2 years from now? What are those Fibre Family's American Dream? I've got a friend on furlough from Fibre now. He's checking out the job market and finding it's real bleak. One my former employees that I consider a good friend and had to lay off, has stayed in touch. It took him 5 weeks to find a job in Vancouver that pays him about 35% less than he made with me and no benfits. He's hoping to come back sometime next year, and I'm hoping I can make it happen. In the mid to late 90's when my business was fluorishing my dream was to retire and travel by my 55th birthday. The recession of 01-03 hit pretty hard and pushed my dream back to 60. And now with recent retirement losses I've suffered that were truly unimaginable to me a mere 3-4 months ago I'm not sure when I'll retire if ever. Does The American Dream still exist? "

devils advocate wrote on Nov 20, 2008 1:31 PM:

" Dumping money into the Highlands??? I wonder who on the council owns property in that area? "

country gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 2:09 PM:

" skeezix: You may be right in some instances but the salary is becoming a problem. There are far too many politicians working for the county, the state and the federal. I looked it up online and it's mindboggling as to how much we, as taxpayers, have to pay each and every one of them first including their retirement and health benefits. I know we're talking about county in this case, but still the same. Before raising fees and taxes, it's time to prune the politicians first and go from there. I'm hoping for the American Dream to exist. "

mwallin wrote on Nov 20, 2008 2:14 PM:

" CountryGal, apparently you have Not seen the council's salaries... or have an understanding of their work load. The Salary Commission members, those who help decide council's pay, are volunteers who applied and were appointed by the Mayor. "

country gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 3:04 PM:

" mwallin: as far as understanding their work load, there are many who put in a lot of hours of hard work and don't get paid very well and some don't even get health benefits! There is something wrong with the overall picture here. "

bizowner wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:51 PM:

" Lucky 7 - you are right on the button - trying to communicate with our leadership is a futile effort. While you may be a nationally recognized expert in your field to them you are just "blowing hot air & wasting their time" as Lucky said. "

country gal wrote on Nov 20, 2008 6:24 PM:

" also mwallin, without us taxpayers, there wouldn't be a chair for the council, a mayor or any politicians to sit on! "

jensdad wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:36 PM:

" "mwallin' How about u enlighten the comminity on just what their salery is for their second job that they fought so hard to get. And maybe while u are at it you can mention how much they make in their full time job too. I know i get frustrated when the council decides to hire outside pr firms to boost out image and has to spend the highest possible amount when hiring someone to fill a top position just to find the one looking for the money. If they were really looking for the job they wouldn't mind giving up that extra $20,000 they were over payed for the good of the community they so much wanted to improve on. Isn't that what community pride is all about? Doing what is good for the community? We would then see where they stand. "

skeezix wrote on Nov 21, 2008 6:55 AM:

" RE: TDN Bad Boy....said the person who supported Bush who signed each budget leading to the biggest deficit in our history..... "

skeezix wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:56 AM:

" Thought I might add before TDNBB chimes in about the deficit being the fault of the "Liberal Democrats" that the majority of Bush's budgets were in a time of Republican Congressional control. "

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