BALANCING ACT TWO

Town of Ruston regular council meeting December 1, 2008 7pm:

Attendance: Mayor Bruce Hopkins, council persons Jane Hunt, Dan Albertson, Jim Hedrick, Wayne Stebner, excused absence Bradley Huson

Agenda item 3 - 2009 Budget Discussion

Mayor - provides insight on balanced budget- projected revenue $573,555 projected expenses of $1,013,779, very serious after whacking everything I could. Ar least $500,000 deficit until Point Ruston kicks in 2011-2014. Biggest item Police Department $497,000 after removing overtime. Same problems as others but we have surplus fund.

Jane - handout from AWC average utility tax 14.5 percent. We could raise utility taxes up below maximum allowed and triple our income. Ex: we have no storm drain tax.

Mayor - Budget stripped down, no overtime, as close as I can get. We could roll back staff or dip into surplus, need help from council. Ruston viable, five years maximum. Takes Town seriously, problems sleeping, very tough decisions. Will need first class fire department. Need long term plan.

Dan - Favors cuts over new taxes. Tax increases $100,00 a year or $1,600 in debt per household (750). Need to redo budget process. Point Ruston not likely until 2018. Need outside budget support.
(Whatever happened to the Marcotte report, a do over? How much?) (All doom and gloom - no answers to problems, no suggestions.)

Wayne - agrees with doom and gloom, need a professional to come in. Need power poles, sewers.
Jim - Seventy percent of budget is salaries, cut employees? Can't tax to revenue neutral. Do a little of both, transfer funds.

Mayor - hotel due 2011.
Dan - We have no hotel tax
Town Attorney - hotel promotion, builder taxes.

Mayor - back to drawing board will get my rendition of budget to you by Saturday Dec. 6th. We need to reach budget agreement.

Jim - breakout costs, single page, revenue each tax, breakout salaries.
Jane - willing to pay increased taxes.
Mayor - harbor fund use for pollution into Bay- reserve money for engineering.

MAYOR'S TIME -
struggling with Tacoma Power, have made it clear they will no longer support us, materials, labor no longer provided. Potentially devastating, no longer supply transformers, labor only at cost. Need Point Ruston support to Tacoma Utility Director. Tacoma will respond to emergencies. Tunnel fund still under review.

COUNCIL TIME -
Wayne - appreciates Mayor's time spent on budget issues.
Dan - (responding to public comment $1600 (TNT) lost gambling tax per month, $100,000 five years.) Actual loss was $600-$700 per month, comment was way off mark.
Jane - 2010 resurface Baltimore street, need to do sewer then. Town responsible for 1200 feet. Hotel obligated to open 2011. Point Ruston doing OK, very well!

MAYOR - Have eight applicants for police chief, four qualified. Three panelists- one council, one public, one professional. MEET AND GREET Monday Dec. 15th before council meeting.

Motion to recess until Dec. 8th passes 4-0. Regular meeting will resume.

COMMENT: It would certainly help if all council members would work together with the Mayor. This budget and it's decisions are of immense importance. New taxes will be tough, staff cuts tougher. The town is riding a thin line.

Those who cannot work with their council partners and the Mayor need to provide answers, solutions. Constant backbiting and undercutting adds little to the Town during such a critical time, decisions of great magnitude and importance. This same message was delivered in a Tacoma News Tribune editorial during the infighting in the town earlier in 2008. Nobody listened.

How about breaking out the LAWSUITS, single page, all expenditures. The time bomb in the budget process and the Town's survival, absolutely no dollar limit and little over seeing. Next hearing Dec. 5th 9am Judge Vicki Hogan on Point Defiance Cafe and Casino? Last injunction hearing cost the town $1,700.