Nearly $123,000 shy of a balanced budget, the Bellevue City Council last week chipped away at city services.
In light of a looming general-fund deficit, city officials cut proposed funding for city departments, which prompted agitation over the future of the Bellevue Public Library and the Bellevue Fire Department.
"I hope you are well aware that consolidating is more expensive than funding your district," Fire Chief Dennis Cannon said.
Funding of the fire department appeared to be in jeopardy at a meeting Thursday, July 14, during the council's consideration of the 2006 fiscal year budget figures.
The preliminary draft of the city budget—which the council will revisit at a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 25, and at a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28—proposes just over $1,418,000 in general-fund expenses. The general fund pays for all city services except sewer and water.
The proposed budget estimates a balanced water fund of $379,000 and a balanced sewer fund of $412,100.
In contrast, the council worked to balance the general-fund deficit, which arose from an actual decrease in the city's income coupled with an increase in expenses.
Voters defeated an attempt to alleviate the city's strained finances in May by opposing a proposal to increase the city's property tax rate, which would have boosted the city's income by $300,000.
The defeated levy election shadowed City Hall last week, as the council carved away at department budgets.
The council struck a request from the marshal's office to fund an additional police officer. The action maintains the department as it currently operates, although it's often strapped to provide service. The marshal's office employs a marshal, an administrator and three deputies, which guarantees 16 patrol hours per day. Additional cuts to the department budget eliminated a request for an evidence room.
Also, in light of interim Marshal Scott Smyth's resignation at the meeting, the council indicated it will consider eliminating a $2,400 budget for the city's drug-sniffing dog. Smyth is the trained dog handler.
The city acquired the dog last year with a $11,150 grant that paid for its purchase, veterinary bills and food expenses for the first year.
The council also eliminated $20,000 for proposed improvements to streets. The money would have provided chip-and-seal maintenance to roads.
"Chip and seal is for maintaining your streets in good condition. We don't have that now," Councilman Shaun Mahoney said.
The cuts brought down the deficit by nearly $60,000, leaving officials with $63,000 left to cut. The strained financial situation could cost the city its fire chief.
"We don't have the finances for a fire chief. It's not in our budget," Councilwoman Tammy Eaton said.
Last year the council voted to fund a full-time fire chief by borrowing from the city's savings fund. The council approved a $40,500 salary for the chief, including benefits.
"That was our decision, based on the fact we thought we needed a fire chief," Councilwoman Vivian Ivie said.
The council—except Mayor Jon Anderson and Councilman Jon Wilkes, who were absent—discussed possible scenarios such as decreasing the chief's hours to a part-time position. The panel opted to make a decision at a later meeting with the mayor and the entire council in attendance.
The council also addressed a potential shortage of funds for the Bellevue Public Library. A looming threat to close the facility arose during the 2004 budget discussions.
"I know that the budget is in trouble, but we use 3 percent of the budget, it is such a minor amount," Librarian Patty Gilman said.
The library has proposed a $28,943 budget.
Gilman presented the council with figures that indicate about 60 percent of Bellevue residents use library services. In June 2005, Gilman said the library checked out an average of 17.4 items per day.
"Too many people use us. We are a vital part of this community," Gilman said.
Gilman stressed the library is a free service to children, stating there are 569 Blaine County students that live in Bellevue. This summer, the library's summer reading program is entertaining an average of 35 children per session.
"I don't think there is any danger of closing you," Councilman Steve Fairbrother said.
