Published: Monday, June 15, 2009
Edmonds floats levy idea to save city services
The city wants input on its $3.75 million proposal, set for a hearing on Tuesday
EDMONDS -- Voters here could face a tough choice come November, one that would pit their wants against their wallets.
The city needs a multimillion-dollar cash infusion to prevent dramatic service cuts, including the possible closure of Yost Pool and slashed parks maintenance budgets, officials said.
A $3.75 million levy proposal that would provide that needed money is scheduled for a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday before the Edmonds City Council.
The levy would cost $222 a year for the average Edmonds homeowner, or about $18.50 a month. The city's median house price is $456,000.
The city has not said what it would cut if the levy failed.
"Putting a name to the cuts is going to be hard, particularly in the middle of an election year," Council President DJ Wilson said.
Still, people in Edmonds have a pretty good idea what those cuts might entail.
The city has been making cutbacks since November when it approved its 2009-10 budget.
Supporters rallied behind their favorite programs and managed to move many of them -- the pool, the parks and a flower program -- off the chopping block.
When sales tax receipts fell $1 million below estimates this March, though, the cuts were back on the table.
In the end, some programs were saved again.
A big part of those savings came from the city's labor unions, which agreed to $600,000 in concessions to avoid layoffs.
Pool supporters also raised more than $50,000 to keep Yost Pool open for this summer.
Cutbacks that have been discussed by city officials include stopping maintenance at the city's 31 neighborhood parks, shuttering the city's economic development department, cancelling the DARE program in local schools and more.
"I do not think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out where some of the first cuts would be," Mayor Gary Haakenson said. "Nothing has changed from November or March that would now rise to the top."
Recently, the city has begun negotiations with Snohomish County Fire District 1 that could end in the city essentially selling its fire department to the fire district.
That isn't an attractive option, Wilson said.
"Selling the fire department is something I hope we don't have to do," he said. "But if the levy doesn't pass, then we are going to have to have a conversation about the types of services we provide in the city of Edmonds.
"We won't be able to provide them all any more," Wilson said.
Chris Fyall: 425-339-3447, cfyall@heraldnet.com.
The city needs a multimillion-dollar cash infusion to prevent dramatic service cuts, including the possible closure of Yost Pool and slashed parks maintenance budgets, officials said.
A $3.75 million levy proposal that would provide that needed money is scheduled for a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday before the Edmonds City Council.
The levy would cost $222 a year for the average Edmonds homeowner, or about $18.50 a month. The city's median house price is $456,000.
The city has not said what it would cut if the levy failed.
"Putting a name to the cuts is going to be hard, particularly in the middle of an election year," Council President DJ Wilson said.
Still, people in Edmonds have a pretty good idea what those cuts might entail.
The city has been making cutbacks since November when it approved its 2009-10 budget.
Supporters rallied behind their favorite programs and managed to move many of them -- the pool, the parks and a flower program -- off the chopping block.
When sales tax receipts fell $1 million below estimates this March, though, the cuts were back on the table.
In the end, some programs were saved again.
A big part of those savings came from the city's labor unions, which agreed to $600,000 in concessions to avoid layoffs.
Pool supporters also raised more than $50,000 to keep Yost Pool open for this summer.
Cutbacks that have been discussed by city officials include stopping maintenance at the city's 31 neighborhood parks, shuttering the city's economic development department, cancelling the DARE program in local schools and more.
"I do not think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out where some of the first cuts would be," Mayor Gary Haakenson said. "Nothing has changed from November or March that would now rise to the top."
Recently, the city has begun negotiations with Snohomish County Fire District 1 that could end in the city essentially selling its fire department to the fire district.
That isn't an attractive option, Wilson said.
"Selling the fire department is something I hope we don't have to do," he said. "But if the levy doesn't pass, then we are going to have to have a conversation about the types of services we provide in the city of Edmonds.
"We won't be able to provide them all any more," Wilson said.
Chris Fyall: 425-339-3447, cfyall@heraldnet.com.
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