BUDGET, FOOD, TOYS

Regular council meeting December 8, 2008 continued:

Remember Town Hall is collecting toys for tots and for the food drive. Shake out the moths and give a little or better yet a lot. Address for town hall is 5117 N Winnifred, Ruston, WA 98407-6597. Drop off items are welcome or mail check to Town clerk. Times are tough, but some have it tougher, and town employees shouldn't have to bear the burden, but the needs are saddening.

BUDGET DISCUSSION -

Pretty dry working out the details. Only three council persons - Bradley, Dan and Wayne. Jane was sick and Jim out of town. So exciting only three public attendees - myself, Beth Torbet and mayor Hopkins wife. Hi lites are few, mostly humdrum:

One itemized budget item under TAXES, Gambling excise taxes:
2007 actual $37,536 2008 budget $30,000 2008 to date $16,536 2009 proposed $5,000.
Wonder why?

.Mayor - 150 hours of overtime added back in budget for Police department after discussion with Police chief. Sergeant Jeremy Kunkel working same shift as chief, overlap to help chief get organized. If Jeremy has to train them why not just give him the job and overlap goes away - budget reduction. Looking at additional $130,000 in arrears.

.Mayor - Tremendous amount of money in reserve funds, imperative we have 3-5 year plan to get organized, define what we need. future of school. Even if I wanted to cannot balance this budget. Need grants and $500,000 from transfer from trust fund, maybe more to keep operating. We are in an emergency, existence of town in the balance.

.Dan - NON-BUDGET ITEM, Point Ruston bringing in fill at night. Who is overseeing them. Need full council discussion, oversight, Town Attorney involved?
.Clerk - EPA oversees, approves.
.Public - Where is jobs for justice when we need them.

.Wayne - Fire department underfunded $350 to $400,000. Is resident fireman program best use of funds. I live across the street but never see anyone. Appreciate time volunteers put in.

.Mayor - fire department severely underfunded, glaring. Not a budget breaker. Need to talk to fire chief for long term plans. Primary concern is to keep safeguarding citizens.

.Wayne - police officers taking vehicles home. Expensive to replace. Not effective if live over five miles away, need to change policy. Specially trained people only.
.Mayor - have inter local agreement. Need mileage limitation.
.Dan - if live far away cannot respond. PRR costs are ridiculous.

Wayne - many budget items - Haul garbage to Orting, better rate? Legislative $30,000, tuition for classes, copiers, civil service ...
Clerk - no more money income from recycling, copiers are cheap- Washington government contract. Need civil service Secretary $100 per meeting may have volunteer.

.Mayor - Need CPA to help and advise on budget, are we managing properly. I cannot be CPA. Need accounting for funds, shifting funds, build up in reserves. Have couple of names for council to review.
.Attorney - Usage is pretty strict for Harbor Improvement fund. Most funds have similar restrictions.

.Mayor - additional budget $448.95 for additional five million liability insurance. Current five million will go to ten.
.Dan - five million per occurrence or one time?
.Mayor - reached agreement with Tacoma Power on utilities (no details).

.Clerk - next week meeting December 15th on budget open for public discussion.
.Attorney - budget has to be approved before end of year.

Motion to adjourn for 30 minute EXECUTIVE SESSION.

Don't forget: toys for tots and food drive.