Liberty Lake sees leaner budget

The Liberty Lake City Council took its first in depth look at the 2009 budget proposed by Mayor Wendy Van Orman Tuesday night. This year’s budget is some 7 percent smaller than last year’s, with general fund spending set at $6.5 million and the total budget coming in at $12.6 million. The 2008 budget was set at $14.7 million.

“We will be looking for efficiencies,” said Van Orman.

Several new things are in the proposed budget, while other items may be cut. The city is looking at accepting payments on the Web to save staff time and the services the city offers will be evaluated in the coming year. “We always need to ask, are we stretching tax dollars as far as they can go,” she said.

No new full-time employees are planned, but several part time and seasonal jobs will be added. The two proposed seasonal employees will help maintain the city’s parks and help run the Parks and Recreation Department’s successful summer day camp. Councilman David Crump questioned if that would be enough in light of the city’s newest park, Rocky Hill. “We’re trying to do more with less,” said community development director Doug Smith. “We won’t feel the full impact of Rocky Hill until the end of the year.”

Crump also expressed concern about the flat amount budgeted for trail maintenance. “Over time, they deteriorate,” he said. “Is that enough? If you don’t keep up with it, it’ll be a huge ticket.”

There was also discussion about having two part-time administrative receptionists instead of one full-time position. “The savings is in the benefits,” said Jessica Platt, administrative services manager. “Part-time positions do not receive benefits.”

“The person who holds that part-time position is not interested in a full-time position,” said Councilwoman Judi Owens, who said she would normally object to such a practice. “I do not think that’s the way the city wants to behave.”

The mayor’s plan also calls for increasing the police records clerk from part time to full time and hiring two reserve police officers. Reserve officers are paid a much lower wage than the city’s regular police officers.

The police department’s budget shows cuts in office supplies, tools and equipment, and telephone charges. The biggest cut is reducing the amount for community policing and education funds from $8,000 to $1,500, while the goals for 2009 call for the department to expand the number of community outreach opportunities. The biggest increase is a jump from $15,000 to $72,000 for call dispatching. That contract is still in negotiations, Smith said.

Owens questioned why the police department budget did not include higher maintenance and operations funds for the new police station, which is expected to be complete in January. “We’ve got a building,” she said. “We’ve got to clean it and maintain it.”

Some of the increased costs for building maintenance can be found in the library’s budget, Smith said. The library will be housed in the same building as the police station and will pay most of the charges for telephones and other utilities. The library budget calls for an increase from $18,000 to $77,800 for office and operating supplies, though the library will be saving the $63,000 it is now paying for rent every year.