Meeting service levels during a pandemic

CHENEY – City officials are predicting some revenue shortfalls in the Public Works Department in 2021, specifically in the building, planning and street departments.

In a budget presentation at the City Council’s Oct. 27 meeting, Public Works Director Todd Ableman also said the system development charge normally instituted to support water and wastewater is low because of a decrease in construction this past year.

“They’re not coming in as what we predicted in 2020, however that’s not part of O&M (operation and maintenance),” he said. “That is part of the reserve fund for growth.”

Expenses for...