Working quickly

MEDICAL LAKE — In a quick, 20 minute meeting, the City Council moved the city’s 2020 budget, along with an employee salary and wage ordinance, one step closer to approval.

Councilman-elect Art Kulibert noted during the citizen comment portion of the meeting that 20 years ago the city was forced to chop $220,000 from its budget in the wake of Initiative 695 that reduced licensing fees to $30.

He expressed concern that the passage earlier this month of a similar initiative, I-976 that again cut car tab fees to $30, may have a similar affect.

City Administrator Doug Ross said he had called officials at the state Transportation Improvement Board and was assured the funds for city projects in the South Lake Terrace area currently on the books would not be affected.

But that may change going forward.

“I think (I-976) will definitely effect street project funding,” Ross said.

The council’s first order of agenda business was the final 2020 budget public hearing, but no one in the handful of people in the audience stood up to speak.

The hearing lasted 13 seconds.

Ross commented during council deliberations that the 2020 budget ending cash balance of $666,000 “may raise some eyebrows,” but noted the city takes a conservative budgeting approach.

“I anticipate that being higher than it is,” he said. “But for now that’s what we’re looking at.”

He noted there were years when the city projected $100,000 – $150,000 ending balance.

“It’s not as dire as it looks,” Ross said.

Referencing a $3.9 million balance of all funds, he noted that amount was “what the city has to its name,” calling it, “not the most comforting feeling.”

By far the largest account was the city’s water and sewer fund, which is projected to have a $1.15 million ending balance.

Various reserve funds are also a large part of the city’s available cash.

The council passed the budget first reading on a 5-2 vote, with Don Kennedy and Ted Olson voting against the ordinance.

The council also considered a second ordinance related to salaries and wages for the city’s union-represented employees.

If approved on second reading, all city employees will receive a 3 percent raise effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Wages and salaries range from $18.94 per hour for summer park laborers to $7,164.79 per month for the city administrator position.

Three other employees are salaried: the finance director, public works and planning director, and the city maintenance supervisor.

All other employees are hourly, with the highest wage topping out at $28.79 per hour for the city’s wastewater treatment plant operator.

Elected officials are also compensated. The mayor receives $1,000 per month and all councilmembers $250, according to language in the salary ordinance.

The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading.

In other business, the council unanimously approved a $379,768 public works contract award to N&N Excavation for work related to the South Lake Terrace Improvement project that is scheduled to begin sometime next spring.

The council’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Lee Hughes can be reached at [email protected].