Cheney council accepts public defense grant

The 2017 budget wasn’t the only item on the Cheney City Council’s Nov. 8 agenda.

The council approved a resolution accepting a public defense grant from the Washington State Office of Public Defense, money that can be used to help with services such as additional attorneys to reduce public defense caseloads, investigative and expert services for public defense cases and interpreter services for attorney-client meetings.

Cheney’s municipal court is receiving $13,500 in 2017, an amount Court Administrator Terri Cooper said is “a little less than last year.” Cheney received $14,800 in 2016.

Council also held a public hearing and subsequent passage of a resolution approving the city’s 2017 Community Development Block Grant application. Public Works Director Todd Ableman told the council the city is seeking funding for water main replacement projects on Oakland Street between North Ninth and North Eleventh streets, and on University Lane between Clay Street and College Hill.

Cheney is part of a consortium of 11 small cities and towns, along with Spokane County and the city of Spokane Valley, that have banded together to pursue CDBG grants, with management of the funding handled at the county level. Cheney projects have benefited from $2.7 million in CDBG funding since 1989, averaging between $95,000 — $100,000 a year.

The council passed two ordinances dealing with the 2017 budget and one pertaining to 2016. Council held the second and third readings and final passage of the city’s general property tax and Emergency Medical Services tax levy for the coming year.

Cheney is anticipating receiving $1,369,800 in property taxes next year, along with $409,100 in property taxes from the 2015 levy lid lift dedicated for public safety and $275,000 for the EMS levy. The money is part of the city’s anticipated just over $7.62 million general fund revenues, which are in turn part of the overall $10 million in governmental revenues budgeted for 2017.

Finance Director Cindy Niemeier said her office had received no additional citizen comments or response to requests for comments since the first reading at the Oct. 25 council meeting.

Finally, the council held all three readings and final passage of a third amendment to the city’s 2016 budget. The ordinance dealt with moving $512,400 among five different funds, including $100,000 in levy lid lift monies from the general fund to a reserve account.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].