Cheney expects $6.7 million in ’09
About half will come from taxes
CHENEY – The city of Cheney is expected to collect around $6.7 million in tax revenue during the 2009 budget year.
City Clerk Cindy Niemeier presented the revenue sources to the council Tuesday night during a public hearing to discuss where the city gets its funds.
It is expected the city will receive $3.3 million from taxes, primarily from property, sales and utility taxes. Over the last 10 years, this figure has grown from around $2 million.
The city is also expecting to receive almost $1.7 million in intergovernmental fees, including money from liquor excise taxes and profits the Eastern Washington University public safety contract, finance and executive charges and public works administration charges.
The council took no action after the hearing.
In other news, two new firefighters were welcomed in front of a standing-room-only crowd.
Jeff Anderson and Casey Holling were sworn in by Niemeier after their wives pinned their badges to their uniforms. Holling nearly missed the ceremony – several firefighters’ pagers went off before the swearing-in, and another firefighter took Holling’s place before he could get leave the meeting.
Chief Mike Winters has also earned the designation of Chief Fire Officer – one of only 609 Chief Fire Officers in the country. Mayor Allan Gainer presented Winters with a plaque.
The council also agreed to buy a new boiler for the Wren Pierson building.
Todd Ableman, interim public works director, showed a photo of the current boiler, which he referred to as Frankenstein.
“It’s old, it’s aged. We’ve pretty much kept it alive for the last two years,” Ableman said.
The new boiler will cost $37,252.
Moos Field will have new restrooms starting next spring.
Parks and Recreation Director Paul Simmons showed a picture of the current bathroom.
“That’s not the most welcoming restroom,” Simmons said.
There was $120,000 in the budget this year for new restrooms for Hagelin Park, but the future of that park could change with the new Betz Park.
Simmons asked the council to approve using the funds for Moos Field instead. The new restrooms will cost $90,000 and will be installed next spring.
The next Cheney city council meeting will be Oct. 28.