By RYAN LANCASTER
Staff Reporter
Airway Heights' preliminary budget slices into most departments but it also provides necessary city services without increased costs, City Manager Albert Tripp told city council members Monday.
The city expected an expenditures/revenues gap of approximately $225,000 next year because of the down economy, but Tripp said “creative solutions” at the departmental level reduced that discrepancy to less than $24,000.
Department managers shared key aspects of their budget plans during a public hearing, starting with municipal court judge Jennifer Fassbender. Decreases in jail costs and expert witness fees, along with defendant financing of electronic home monitoring will save $23,000 next year, she said.
Public Works director Kelly Williquette said the water department will see a 7 percent reduction, with the largest savings coming from the elimination of one position through attrition and the reorganization of work functions and classifications. The wastewater division will be cut by 11 percent, mostly coming from salaries and benefits, but streets and building departments will be maintained at current levels.
Police chief Lee Bennett outlined reductions of 14 to 75 percent for equipment, supplies and maintenance. While the numbers are high, Bennett said the cuts don't represent a large amount of money and many savings come from the department's new, more efficient headquarters.
Fire chief Tom Ledgerwood said aside from some new suppression equipment, his supply budget will be 40 percent less than this year. The volunteer compensation fund will increase by up to $69,000 to help with retention.
Parks and recreation director J.C. Kennedy said the preliminary community services budget includes an 8 percent reduction, city parks an 18 percent reduction and the community center a 15 percent reduction. The bulk of savings will come from irrigation efficiencies, he said.
Another hearing will be held on the preliminary budget during the Nov. 15 council meeting.
Also Monday, council had a protracted debate about two proposed amendments to council rules of procedure, which have already been discussed in committee for six weeks. One amendment would have required the mayor to “attend board committee meetings where the city has been invited to provide a representative in the absence of an appointed council member.”
Mayor Patrick Rushing said he requested the amendment to give the mayor a newly defined set of responsibilities to accompany an increase in salary to $2,000 per month, which council approved last year despite his opposition.
Councilman Matthew Pederson moved to replace the amendment's use of “shall” with “may” or “should” in order to avoid placing undue responsibility on the mayor. The changes were subsequently adopted.
There was more discussion on another part of the amendment reading, “city council members shall represent all citizens residing in the corporate boundaries of Airway Heights.” Though most council members deemed the section redundant, it was retained before a 4-3 vote ultimately approved the resolution as a whole.
Other agenda items included the following:
The first reading of an ordinance increasing the regular property tax levy by 1 percent for 2011; approval of a contract for $38,637 with H2O Well Service for repairs at the city's Well 8, which partially collapsed a few months ago; approval of job descriptions relating to the reorganization of the public works department to provide increased services; a resolution adopting an updated 20-year regional solid waste plan; and approval of a lowered speed limit – from 45 to 35 miles per hour – on Sprague Avenue between Hayford Road and Russell Street.
Public works director Williquette also announced that paving on Hayford Road, originally scheduled for completion Oct. 15, should wrap up by the end of this week and be open to traffic early next week.
Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].
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