MUKILTEO — The City Council didn’t adopt a new budget Monday night, but it did agree on cuts that get it halfway to making up a $443,000 shortfall.
The agreed-upon cuts came in small chunks, including one proposal to raise $36,000 by increasing rent at the Rosehill Community Center up to 80 percent of the market rate for office buildings.
What appeared to be avoided was the elimination of a fire captain and police officer positions, the first of which means Fire Station 1 in Old Town would stay open on weekdays.
"I’d say we’re about halfway there," Mayor Don Doran said of the needed cuts.
Doran said the council would continue working on the budget later into the night, adding that he didn’t expect the council to agree on everything.
The council expects to continue its public hearing on the budget Monday.
The largest agreed-upon cut would be to cancel the hiring of two new paramedics, positions that were to be filled if residents had approved an emergency medical services levy Nov. 4. That initiative failed, so council members indicated they would take up the matter later.
Not hiring the two paramedics will save the city $150,000.
Other services the council agreed could be cut, and their value, included:
The council was choosing from a menu of cuts totaling $686,500, outlined by the city administrator. They also had the choice of raising $700,000 in increased fees and taxes.
Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
