North Bend approves $15-million 2004 budget
Published 12:23 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
NORTH BEND – The city’s budget picture got a whole lot brighter last week thanks to a $125,000 windfall from a King County Conservation Futures grant.
Prior to approving the $15-million 2004 budget on Dec. 2, council members earmarked the new funds to bolster a pavement management program and address speeding problems along Cedar Falls Way, among others.
Because the conservation funds are required to be used for that purpose, city officials backed $125,000 of its own money from the Tollgate Farm purchase and swapped it with the county funds.
News of the grant came just weeks after a Washington Supreme Court decision upheld Initiative 776, the controversial $30 car tab measure. The ruling forced King County to stop collecting a portion of the fees, costing it $5 million and the city about $40,000 next year.
The I-776 hit was the latest event in a tough financial year for the city.
Still in a four-year building moratorium, construction fees remained stagnant, while revenues to the city parallels those of 2003 while expenses continued to rise. The battle to fend off a state Department of Social and Health Services sex-offender halfway house cost the city time and money.
Despite the gloomy picture, city officials were able to allocate an additional $140,000 for increased police services and will not find any cuts in services or increases in utility rates.
“This budget that is before council makes North Bend safer,” said Councilman Mark Sollitto. “I’m proud of that.”
In what is being called the “supplementary budget,” council members earmarked the county funds for a number of projects. Council members can change the allocation of the funds at any time next year, and any policy issues associated with the earmarked funds will undergo a standard hearing process in front of the council.
The projects slated to receive funding are:
* Pavement Management Fund ($60,000) – In addition to the already allocated $40,000, the city would meet its goal of contributing $100,000 for next year.
* Bleacher replacement at Torguson Park ($15,000)
* Cedar Falls traffic safety ($13,500) – The money is expected to pay for: lane restriping along Cedar Falls Way to reduce the speed of traffic; the addition of speed limit markings on the pavement; and a stationary radar reader board that displays the speed of vehicles.
* Electronic chat room ($3,500) – Residents would be able to post questions for city officials and receive answers via the Internet.
* Seven member City Council ($12,575) – The City Council would have the option to grow from five to seven members.
* Flower baskets ($2,700) – To be hung downtown.
* Pedestrian island on North Bend Way (2,000) – Island would help improve pedestrian safety along busy North Bend Way.
* Irrigation of New Si View Park ($5,000) – According to residents living in the Si View development, the park has been neglected by the city for two years.
“I’m sure there were parks in the city that got water this summer, but Si View was not one of them,” said resident D.J. Krause.
* Add 10 percent to reserve ($5,225)
Travis Peterson can be reached at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at travis.peterson@valleyrecord.com.
