Council says new budget lacking details

Spokane Mayor Jim West came under fire Monday night over a proposed 2006 budget that the City Council says is short on critical details.

Council President Dennis Hession told West that taxpayers deserve more specifics on what would be cut from the budget next year if voters do not approve an increase in the regular property tax levy on Nov. 8.

Hession said voters are “not getting the tools they need for making an informed decision,” but a combative mayor refused to specify how many police, firefighters or librarians might be lost if taxes are not raised.

West said he “would not be party to blackmailing voters,” and in another reference he described it as “holding hostages” by revealing what might be cut. “I can’t predict what those cuts might be,” West said.

Top administration officials have said as many as two neighborhood fire stations could be closed and dozens of police and firefighter jobs could be lost without more than $6 million in new revenue being added to the general fund in 2006 through two separate tax increases.

West is asking voters for a 32-cent, two-year increase in the city’s regular property tax rate to raise $3.3 million a year. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.

In addition, the council is being asked to increase the city tax on its own utilities from 17 percent to 20 percent for two years, to raise another $2.8 million. City labor groups are also being asked for $1.9 million in givebacks on health care benefits.

For weeks, the mayor has pursued a strategy of avoiding a discussion of the negative implications of budget cuts.

He said surveys show the public may be willing to support the higher property tax at the polls next month.

Tension between the mayor and council has grown steadily since May when a newspaper investigation reported that West was seeking dates from young men by offering positions and favors of his office and that he used his city computer to find them on a gay Web site.

West is the target of a Dec. 6 recall election scheduled after more than 17,000 residents signed petitions. The City Council last spring unanimously called on West to resign.

During Monday’s meeting, Hession said the mayor’s budget constituted a failure to tell citizens what is going to occur if revenue is not increased.

West was quick to hit back. “It’s your responsibility to tell the public what you are not funding,” he said.

Councilman Joe Shogan also asked the mayor how many police and fire officers would be lost, but the mayor responded only by pointing out that public safety comprises about half of the general fund expenses.

Nearly 150 general-fund jobs were lost in budget cuts a year ago, and nearly half of them were in public safety.

West said the cuts have left the city “bouncing along the bottom right now.”

It costs nearly $1 million a year to employ a dozen police officers or firefighters.

The mayor outlined several cuts already proposed for 2006, including a $300,000 reduction in the city’s cash contributions to human service organizations and a two-person reduction in the street department.

West said he is not cutting support for economic development organizations. He also said he is considering a possible increase in parking meter rates as part of a larger program to improve the parking meter system.

Budget woes are being caused by slow growth in tax revenue compared with higher costs for salaries, benefits, fuel and other expenses.

The mayor said he wants to hire a turnaround specialist to come up with ways to cut expenses.

A turnaround consultant could cost up to $2 million. Councilwoman Mary Verner suggested hiring a consultant on a contingency basis, in which the consultant would be paid based on how much money is saved.

Councilman Bob Apple pointed out that the proposed $126.5 million in spending on general fund services – including police, fire, libraries, streets and parks – is $5 million more than the 2005 budget.

Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers read a list of financial questions being raised by state auditors over the city’s budget performance in 2004, including questions about utility billings, leave accruals, contract compliance and control over bank accounts.

Chief Financial Officer Gavin Cooley in an interview described the audit issues as part of an ongoing discussion between the city and state auditor’s office over routine government accounting practices.