Council Passes ‘98 Spending Plan Cable TV, Water, Sewer And Garbage Collection Bills Will Go Up

With little comment and no changes, the Spokane City Council unanimously approved the 1998 spending plan drafted by the city manager.

The plan passed Monday increases utility and cable TV bills but drops property taxes for most people.

City residents will get another park, a new library and a public information coordinator.

Approval of the 1998 budget means residents will pay about $2.87 a month more for water, sewer and garbage collection.

They also will pay $10 more for a business license - going from $50 to $60 a month - and about 37 cents a month more for cable television due to a new utility tax.

Most residents will pay less in property taxes in 1998 than in 1997 because voter-approved street and park bonds expire this year.

Nonresidents will pay a $100 surcharge for ambulance service if they need emergency medical care while inside city limits.

The general government budget calls for a slight increase in spending, from $123.3 million in 1997 to $124.4 million next year. The general government fund pays for everything from public safety to parks and recreation.

In 1998, the city must pick up the full tab for 26 police officers hired with the help of a 1993 federal grant. The grant - which kicked in $25,000 per year per officer for three years - expires at the end of 1997, leaving city taxpayers responsible for the entire $1.2 million cost.

The library department plans to open a branch in the Indian Trail neighborhood with seven new employees. The $1.8 million branch will be the sixth and last library built under a voter-approved bond issue. While the bond covers construction costs, about $300,000 must come from the regular city budget to staff and operate the branch.

The Parks and Recreation Department plans to begin an urban forestry program and construct a park in the Garry neighborhood.

The communications department plans to hire a public information coordinator at $28,081 a year.

Mayor Jack Geraghty described the spending plan as a “very lean” budget that doesn’t cut any services.

Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers asked City Manager Bill Pupo to look into cutting travel and cellular phone expenses when future budgets are drafted. “We aren’t going to find millions, but we will find $40,000 to $50,000 here and there,” she said.

In other business, the council approved, 6-1, a salary boost for top managers. Rodgers cast the dissenting vote.

The increase raises the pay of 14 top managers and two administrators by 1.9 percent. Some employees got up to 1 percent more through merit raises.

The total pay package will cost taxpayers about $32,000. The raises will be retroactive to last Jan. 1.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Changes in city’s spending