Dare, 42 City Staff On List Of Cuts Proposed To Council

The city’s money blues made for deep cuts in Spokane’s 1996 proposed spending plan.

City Manager Roger Crum delivered a proposal to the City Council on Monday that took a chunk from nearly every department.

Under the proposal, DARE would be out. So would the city’s international development office.

At least 42 staff positions - possibly more - would take a walk. So would a fire ladder company.

Streets wouldn’t be swept as often. Some buildings would go without inspections.

“It’s not going to be an easy year,” Crum said.

Crum outlined for the council his proposal for 1996 general fund spending, which pays for police, fire, public works and other City Hall services. It also contributes to the library, street and park funds.

“This is a bite-the-bullet budget,” Councilman Chris Anderson told Crum. “I’m surprised with the results you’ve been able to achieve.”

Under Crum’s proposal, the city would spend $97.5 million - that’s $2.5 million less than 1995’s revised spending plan. The city would begin 1996 with $3 million in reserves and end with $1.7 million.

This year’s sliding revenues forced Crum and his staff to make serious cuts in next year’s budget.

Early projections showed that - unless cuts were made - the city would lack $6.5 million it needed to provide the same services next year as this year.

Sales tax revenues are down. Construction is flat. Real estate sales are slacking. Jail bills are way up.

The proposed 1996 budget calls for:

Eliminating the DARE program June 30, 1996. The seven fulltime officers used in the $600,000-a-year program would return to the police force.

Eliminating the city’s international development office, possibly bidding out some of the department’s services.

Reducing the street sweeping program.

Levying fees for fire inspections of apartments and safety equipment.

Levying fines for “false alarms,” where police respond to a burglary alarm that triggered accidentally.

Closing a fire ladder company.

Raising property taxes to the 6 percent, state-imposed lid.

Cutting expenses such as travel, cellular phone use, consultant contracts and temporary seasonal employees anywhere from 2 percent to 65 percent.

Charging city departments for various city services such as rent, maintenance and accounting.

Eliminating at least 42 staff positions through attrition and the city’s voluntary severance program.

Cutting police overtime for community relations work. “No front-line officers will be cut,” Crum said.

Next year’s proposed budget allows for contract-negotiated salary increases for laborers, secretaries, record-keepers and professional employees at 3.25 percent.

Police and firefighters are in the midst of contract negotiations, which leaves a big question mark looming over the proposal. A 3.25 percent increase is included in the plan.

“This budget is balanced, rather precariously,” Crum said, adding that there were more cuts to come.

Next week, the council will hear budget proposals for the water, wastewater and solid waste departments.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Proposed city budget cuts