SNOHOMISH — With the region’s economy remaining strong and boosting sales tax revenue for the city, Snohomish plans to add a second detective, a new building inspector and extend a popular trail in 2008.
The city’s general fund, which pays for basic services including police protection, is expected to grow to about $10.5 million in 2008. That would be about $2 million increase over this year.
Combined with other funds, the city’s total operation budget is forecast to be approximately $17.4 million.
“I think this is a very healthy budget,” said Larry Bauman, the city manager.
The city plans to hold a public hearing on its proposed 2008 budget Nov. 6.
City officials attribute the projected revenue increase to strong sales tax revenues. Next year, the city is expected to start raking in revenue from a new shopping center along Bickford Avenue. Snohomish Station is expected to be the city’s biggest retail development for years to come. In 2008, two anchor tenants, Fred Meyer and Home Depot, are expected to open.
With its revenue expected to increase, the city plans to spend $332,850 hiring five new employees next year. The city also plans to increase attorney fees by $50,000 to prepare for litigation and to process an increasing volume of public records requests, Bauman said.
The city’s police department is expected to add a full-time detective — doubling its number of detectives from one to two — and hire a part-time records clerk who will issue passports. Unlike many other cities in Snohomish County, the city currently doesn’t provide passport service, Bauman said.
The public works department is set to hire an assistant operations manager to help the city meet increasing federal and state regulations. And the Parks Department expects to add a seasonal parks maintenance worker to clean graffiti in the city.
“Certainly, we’ve seen a lot of graffiti,” Bauman said, adding that the city is considering a new ordinance to deal with graffiti.
Snohomish has contracted with Lake Stevens for building inspection service. But Lake Stevens, a fast-growing city, can no longer provide the service in 2008, Bauman said. Snohomish is hiring its own building inspector who will also serve as code enforcement officer.
Meanwhile, the city sets aside money for major projects that are not covered in its operations budget. In 2008, the city plans to spend about $8.7 million including federal and state grants for those projects.
Here is a list of key projects:
$693,000 to replace rip-rap lost during flooding in November and December. The work is needed to protect the city’s water transmission line near the Pilchuck River. “It is a critical situation,” Bauman said.
$1.45 million to extend the Centennial Trail from the corner of Bowen Street and State Avenue to the corner of Maple and Pine avenues.
$450,000 to clean up residual sewer and wastewater material, which could damage the environment, at a lagoon near the city’s sewer treatment plant.
$68,000 to build a memorial at a former pioneer cemetery site on Cypress Avenue. A new senior center was originally planned on the site, but the city moved the project to Fourth Street after discovering 96 sites where it’s believed human remains were buried.
$20,000 to design a boat dock at Kla Ha Ya Park. The proposed dock is expected to attract boat tourists to the city’s downtown.
$95,000 to design a development plan for Harryman’s Farm Park. The 7-acre park is undeveloped.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
@2. Breakout Header:Budget talk
The Snohomish City Council plans to hold a public hearing on the city’s 2008 budget at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the George Gilbertson Boardroom at 1601 Ave. D. For information, call the city at 360-568-3115.
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