Monroe considers cutting staff, YMCA pledge to fill budget hole

MONROE — The local YMCA could lose a pledge of more than $1.6 million and 10 city employees could be laid off to address the city’s perilous budget situation.

Officials project that the general fund will end the year $237,000 in the red unless changes are made.

The deficit may balloon to $759,000 next year, the result of declining tax revenue and rising costs.

Mayor Robert Zimmerman proposed a worst-case-scenario fix at the City Council’s Tuesday night meeting. He recommended covering the entire shortfall with 10 layoffs, cutting three police officers, a parks employee, a community service officer and administrative staff.

“We needed to start there and work our way backwards,” Zimmerman said Wednesday.

The city staff already has been thinned by years of hiring freezes. Right now, it has 115 employees, including 25 police officers, city officials said. Most salaries are covered by the general fund, which now stands at $10.27 million.

In an effort to save jobs, the City Council started looking for cuts. Perhaps the most controversial: It voted 5-0 to prematurely end a contract supporting the YMCA.

Councilwoman Margie Rodriguez was absent from the meeting, and Councilwoman Patsy Cudaback did not participate in the vote, because she is the YMCA’s executive director.

The annual payments of $131,700 to the YMCA began in 2007 when the facility opened. They were expected to continue for 12 more years.

The money was used to pay off debt on the facility’s pool. The agreement allowed either side to end it prematurely.

Councilman Tony Balk said halting the payments is necessary to save jobs.

“Can we defend it?” he said of the decision. “I think we can.”

Discussion of the YMCA contract on Tuesday night caught some by surprise. It was not listed as an item for discussion on the agenda.

Cudaback recused herself from the discussion. On Wednesday, she confined her remarks to the history behind the contract, declining to comment on the future impact to the facility.

“I don’t think it (the YMCA) would have been built without that city commitment,” she said.

Cynthia Klever, associate executive director of the branch, said the YMCA may need to start charging residents for exercise programs that traditionally have been free.

“We’re hoping that our members will fight it,” Klever said. “We’re kind of weighing our options right now. It just happened last night.”

The council didn’t limit the cuts to the YMCA.

Nonunion employees will lose scheduled increases in pay and benefits, saving $83,400 next year — roughly the cost of a police officer.

The City Council also wants to renegotiate contracts with its unions.

Current union contracts run through 2011 and include regular pay increases. Many on the council have faulted those raises, which are tied to years of service, not job performance.

The city planned to send out all 10 layoff notices on Wednesday. Some may be rescinded after the council finishes making trims to the budget and chooses which jobs to save.

The police department faces the deepest cuts, in part because it’s the largest department covered by the general fund. It has 46 employees, including 25 officers.

Detective Spencer Robinson, president of the Monroe Police Officers Guild, said losing three officers would turn the department into a reactive force that simply responds to 911 calls.

“I would hope that it’s not a done deal,” he said.

The union is open to discussing its contracts, Robinson said. He also said the council should ask voters for a property tax increase.

“People support law enforcement,” Robinson said. “That’s the No. 1 thing that people are willing to pay taxes for.”

A tax increase was suggested Tuesday, but did not win the council’s support. The majority felt voters would reject it, given the state of the economy.

“It’s kind of a dead issue right now,” Councilman John Stima said.

Monroe isn’t alone in its budget woes.

The city of Lynnwood also is considering cuts to its police department as it prepares its new two-year budget. As many as 23 positions may be lost, representing about a quarter of the force.

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.