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Home My WebLink About12/02/74 STATUTORY BUDGET HEARING= DECEMBER 2, 1974 The Statutory City Council Meeting for the purpose of holding hearing on the 1975 Preliminary Budget ~s held Monday, December 2, 1974, at 9:05 a.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, with Mayor Jarstad presiding. Also present were: Ccmmissioner Stewart, Co~missioner Schoneman, Citv Clerk Yeadon, CHief Accountant Richard Burns, and his sec~etars,. Richard Burns, Chief Accountant, gave presentation to the Council and stated the following cuts ar~ ~ecommended to bring the budget to balance: Cou~t Office, cut hack to $69,000; Grants Administration reduced to $17,300; Attoz-ney's Office reduced to $S3,000; Civil Service ~educed to $23,n00; Police Depa~.b,mnt reduced to $907,000; Co~.~nications Depa~.b~ent reduced to $112,000; Fire Depa~.b,mnt reduced to $792,000; Parks Dept. reduced to $350,000; Si-peet Dept. reduced to $B04,6D0; En~ineering to $211,090; Building Dept. to $46,000. Mm. Burns ex~olained the City will be. receiving 8.1 percent more revenue this year than last year. Stated revenue received from property taxes will be $5,000 less than anticipated. The hearing continued, and Floyd Deitch, Firefighters Local 437, expressed his thoughts concerninK wake increases and departmental cuts. Mr. Deitch stated he felt the Council should work with a realistic fixate for salary increases; not budgeting a mere seven or eight percent when at least a 1~ percent increase will be granted. Sooke of increase on fire premiums to tbe business a~ea which ~.rill be the result of depaz.t~,~ntal cuts; that this will bring the Fire Depax.h~ant down to Class rout ~ating. Mavor Jarstad stated his main concern is not with wage oercentages, but with savin¢~ the Fire DeDm'baent from severe cuts, including the elimination of one station. Mr. Burns explained that the recc~nended cuts would result in the elimination of seven police officers, eight firefighters and reduction in rank of some firefighters, and closing of one fire station. Stanley Brlttell, Firefighter, suggested that tax increases be imposed on businessmen to support the FJ~ Depax.t.~nt; that if they do not do this~ their fire insurance premium~ will be increased. qarv Larson, Firefighter, co~nented that the proposed departmental cuts would put the Bremer~con Fire Depar~nent down to at least a Fourth Class Rating, and possibly a Fifth Class, increasing Drm3~iums from in to 20 percent. Commissioner Scheneman m~Kgested that the Council members start meetinK with Department Heads and Chie[ Accountant to Ko through the budget pa~e by pa~e. Commissioner Stewart stated he felt this ~ould be a Kood idea, and an agenda could be made up in order to talk to Depar, U~nt Heads individually to avoid taking up too much of their time. STATUDDRY ~GET ~i~LING - DECTMBER 2~ 1974 (Cont.) ~eeting Recessed 10:15 a.m. Meeting called to Order 9:04 a.m.~ December 3~ 197~, in the Council Chambers of City Ha]_l. Attendin~ were: Conmtis§ioner Stewart, Mayor Protempore; Con*missioner Sehoneman, Cii'v Clerk, Chief Accountant. ~ayor Jarstad attending National League of Cities Meeting in Houston, Texas. ODnmlissioner $te~rt stated that discussion has been held with Depa~O~mnt Heads on an individual basis, and more meetings have been scheduled. R. Wes Henry, Kitsap County Council on Alcoholism (KCCA) was present r~questing the City support their program at the same rate requested last year, $14,~78.00. ~r. Henrv explained the importance of their Detox progr~n, and stated that the Police Depa~.tment cannot jail a man for being drunk according to the law; that this person would have to be referred to a medical aKencv for detoxication. Explained that the Police Depa~.h,~nt would be forced to take intoxicated and incapacitated persons to Harrison Hospital if the Detox C~nter is not provided. Stated that the KCCA budget is very tight, including no cost of llvinK raises, and a limited amount for office supplies. Spoke of the Detox Ppogram reaching nearly50 percent successful cases. The Con~issioners stated that this matter would be carefully studied and considered. A~st. Chief Kvistad~ spoke of the need for the Detox Program~ and commented that it is a great help to the Police Depax, b~ent, and they provide rehabilitation that can't be pDovldedby the Police Department. Meeting~ Recessed at 9:35 a.m. ~eeting called to order 9:00 a.m., December 4, 1974. Attending were: Conmlissioner Stewart, Mayor Protempore; C~m~lssioner Schoneman, City Clerk Yeadon, Chief Accountant. Meeting opened with Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation by Mel Unruh of Sun, it Avenue Presbyterian Church. Kenneth Anthony, Fireflghter, stated he did not feel it was the Fi~e Depaz~t~,~nt's fault that the proper ~ge figures were not placed in the 197~ budget, and they should not be penalized for this overexpenditure. Roy Jacobson, Br~merton SUN, asked if the City's Rescue One Program will he jeopardized. Cc~mlissior~r Stewart stated he did not hear anything llke this; however, at the present time~ doesn't kn~ how the Mayor feels. '~eetinK Recessed 9:15 a.m. ~{eeting called to order 9:12 a.m., Dec~3nber 6~ 1974, with Mayor Jarstad presiding.. Also attending, C~mmissioner Stewart, Conmtissioner Schoneman~ City Clerk Yeadon, Chief Accountant. l~ngthy budF, et discussions were held, and Commissioner Schoneman reported that mechanics position at Municipal Repair C~age will not be refilled and foreman position will be eliminated, the present foreman heing laid off. Stated there will now he a Chief Mechanic who will receive a hiKher pay rate; however~ the foreman could not fill this position in accordance with Civil Service Rules. Conmissioner Stewart stated that he and C~nntissioner $ehoneman agreed to pay the Detox Program (KCCA) ~0 percent less than that allocated last year. ~ommissioner $choneman stated be wants ~500 per month provided in the budget for patrol of the watershed. C.C. Southerland, Civil Service $ee.-Examiner~ stated that positions lost in the Fire and Police Departments cannot be filled with CETA employees; that this would be in violation of federal guidelines. Several Firefighters gave their thoughts to the C~,~Jssioners urging increased taxes to provide needed revenue to maintain the Police and Fire Depa~.h,~ents. Several citizens stated they were in favor of increased taxes in order to receive adequate fire and Dolice protection. C~m,{ssioner Stewart stated he felt the matter of taxing was not brought up soon enough, and he ~uld like any such action to go to the vote of the people; that if the peoole wanted taxes~ he would vote for taxes. Co,mlissioner Schoneman stated he did not feel he could cu~,~.{t himself at the present time. / if ~av~r J~stad slated t~ incases ~ necess~ ~ o~er ~o ~ public safety, ~d this is the onlv ~ay to get ~h ~venue ~to ~ Ci~ buret fo~ t~s p~ ~ ~d p~se action to acco~lish this. ~etinK Adjo~ed 12:15 p.m. G.C. ~ . ~ C~