Public Periscope

Budget problems? What budget problems?

The city’s fiscal dilemma has caused such gnashing of teeth that Spokane’s top officials apparently have hit brain matter. … In a move that’s sure to light a few fuses tonight, City Manager Roger Crum will suggest the council raise his salary, along with those of Planning Services Director Irv Reed and Finance Director Pete Fortin, by 2.75 percent. … If approved, that would give them annual paychecks of $95,698, $84,754 and $67,805, respectively. On the bright side, that’s .5 percent less (although quite a few dollars more) than rank-and-file workers get under existing labor contracts.

Signs of the times

There’s a new activist group in the state with a new cause: initiatives. Fortunately, Taxpayers for Responsible Initiatives isn’t circulating its own initiative. But the small band of frustrated citizens wants the Legislature to pass laws that restrict the initiative process. … Co-founder Pat Griffith of Seattle said initiative sponsors should be required to tell up front whether they are paying workers to gather signatures. Those workers should also be required to know enough about the proposal that they won’t misrepresent it to potential signers. Contributions to initiatives should be limited, just like contributions to candidates, she added. … The group held a news conference at a Seattle mall last week to plead the case and urge voters to “read every line before you sign.” Signature hounds for several petition drives reportedly worked the crowd.

Oh the freedom to be unofficial

During a recent council meeting, Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty announced with a smirk that the Washington State Bar Association was declaring Dec. 29 “Litigation-Free Day.” “They plan to honor this day by not filing any lawsuits,” said Geraghty. … “And they wonder why people don’t trust lawyers,” quipped outgoing Councilman Joel Crosby. … “Spoken like a real short-timer,” shot back Geraghty.

This never happened on ‘Lou Grant’

It’s bad enough that Hollywood can’t pronounce “Spokane” and thinks Des Moines is the capital of Idaho. Now, those show biz folks have misnamed our best known racist. A recent episode of “New York News” included a supposedly fictitious white supremacist named Raymond Butler. … Raymond?

Legislators on the move Republican

Duane Sommers of south Spokane, newly returned to the state House of Representatives, was handed his committee assignments recently. He’ll be on Capital Budget, Corrections, and Financial Institutions and Insurance when the Legislature starts up Jan. 8. … Meanwhile, Democrat Dennis Dellwo of north Spokane is switching committees, from Health Care to Law and Justice. Dellwo helped write healthcare reform as chairman of his old committee, back when the Dems ran things in the House and before those reforms were reformed again this year by the new GOP majority. … Colville Republican Cathy McMorris was named last week the chairwoman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee. She says one of her first tasks will be to take another run at deregulation of teen work hours.

For the jetting set

Spokane International Airport is trying out a new service this week. Valet parking. … From Tuesday through Sunday, travelers can leave their car in a specially marked area, give the attendant the required information, and take off. The keys can be picked up at the Budget Rental Counter upon return. Cost is $6.50 per day, extra for a carwash.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you have a question about government, growth or development, we’d like to help find an answer. Write c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210, by fax at 459-5482, or by e-mail at jimc@spokesman.com. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOT TOPICS Wednesday: The Spokane Library Board wrestles with budget cuts for 1996. 4:30 p.m., Room 1A Downtown Library, 906 W. Main.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports