STA behind with 2007 budget planning

Thu., Nov. 16, 2006

By Amy Cannata amyc@spokesman.com

Spokane Transit Authority staff are a month behind in preparing the 2007 budget and plan to give taxpayers just hours to review and comment on their proposed spending plan before seeking final board approval.

A draft budget is typically presented to the board in November and then tweaked and adopted in December, but other projects and union negotiations have slowed the budgeting process, said STA Finance Director Jim Plaster.

“We’re just later than we planned, but it’s not due to a lack of effort,” said Plaster, who added he and his staff have been working seven days a week for the past month.

Staff this year plan to individually brief board members on the 2007 budget in early December, but not give a public briefing until just prior to adoption.

Board member and Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin said she doesn’t have a problem with the one-on-one briefings, but other board members said that plan is unacceptable.

The public should have more time for review and input, said board member and Spokane County Commissioner Todd Mielke.

The public hasn’t historically commented on STA’s budget, said agency CEO Susan Meyer.

This year may be the year people pay attention, said board member and Spokane City Councilman Al French.

“I’m going to make a recommendation that instead of voting on it in December, that we postpone adoption until January,” French said.

Unlike cities and counties, STA doesn’t have a statutory obligation to approve a budget by the end of the year.

STA’s 2006 budget is $68.7 million, and its reserve is growing. Plaster said he couldn’t even give a ballpark figure for the 2007 budget.

The one thing STA staff could say about the budget is that it does not include funding for light rail planning or development.

Two advisory light rail ballot issues failed earlier this month, and barring action by the board tonight or at a later date, STA’s work on the project is finished.

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