EVERETT — Mayor Ray Stephanson is taking his budget-cutting plan to the neighborhoods.
Tuesday night, the mayor was at Zion Lutheran Church, 4634 Alger Ave., to explain to the South Forest Park Neighborhood Association why he is cutting $3.5 million from the 2004 budget. Immediately afterward, he rushed to a meeting of the Riverside Neighborhood Association to do the same thing.
They were, respectively, the sixth and seventh neighborhood groups he has visited since he announced his budget plan on March 31. Stephanson plans to visit the remaining 12 neighborhood groups within the next several weeks.
The mayor said before Tuesday’s gathering that it’s difficult for some residents to accept a plan that includes layoffs and service cuts. But he’s convinced that once residents hear his proposals in detail, they’ll be more likely to support them.
"The more open we are with this information, the greater understanding we will have from our citizens," he said.
At the South Forest Park meeting, Stephanson came armed with charts and graphs showing that gaps between revenues and expenses will balloon to more than $16 million by 2008 if cuts are not instituted this year.
He likened the city budget to a household budget to explain why, even with a $25 million surplus, cuts are necessary.
"As any one of us in a household knows, we can’t exist on our savings for very long," he said.
Stephanson said the layoffs of 17 permanent and seven temporary employees, and cuts in parks, library and other services, were not easy.
"In terms of impact and emotion, the whole nine yards, it’s the most difficult thing I’ve ever done," he said. "But what gives me peace of mind is that I know that by doing this, we can avoid more severe cuts in the future — more cuts in services and a more severe impact on employees."
Al Crippen, 67, was impressed by Stephanson’s presentation.
"It’s just like he points out," Crippen said. "The money isn’t there. If we don’t do it now, we’ll be worse off later."
Gail Lascher, who represents South Forest Park on the city’s Council of Neighborhoods, said she supported the cuts even before the mayor gave his presentation.
"I became more convinced after he spoke and I saw the numbers," she said. "I still feel badly for the people who lost their jobs and the program cuts, but I see why they’re necessary."
At least one resident worried about cuts in the code enforcement office, which monitors problems such as junked cars and unsightly yards.
Stephanson said he doesn’t believe the city will be any less vigilant in enforcing code violations because of the cuts.
But, he added: "I’ll make you this commitment. We’ll watch this very closely. If we’re not able to keep up, we’ll figure out something in the future to maintain the quality we’ve enjoyed."
The mayor also vowed not to cut grants to neighborhood groups.
"With the input we’re getting from the neighborhoods, we govern better," he said. "We make better decisions."
Stephanson said one reason for the cuts is Initiative 747’s cap on property-tax increases, which permanently reduced revenues flowing into the city’s coffers.
Anne Rafter asked what would happen if Tim Eyman’s proposal for a 25 percent reduction in property taxes were to get on the ballot and pass.
Stephanson said "everything is on the table" if Initiative 864 were to pass. The city would have to cut about $8 million in spending, or nearly 10 percent of the general government budget, he said.
"I would tell you, the effect would be very dramatic," the mayor said.
Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com
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