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City of Seattle
Seattle City Council
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: City Council Adopts Revised 2004 Budget
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
3/29/2004 5:15:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Roberts (206) 684-8146
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CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS REVISED 2004 BUDGET
$9.3 million cut to pay for street lights largely reflects Mayor’s proposal
SEATTLE – The Seattle City Council today voted 8-1 to cut $9.3 million from the 2004 City Budget to pay for City street lights this year and prepare to refund ratepayers affected by a state Supreme Court decision last fall.
Last November, the court struck down a City practice to charge City Light ratepayers for the cost of operating street lights. The cost is roughly $6 million each year, so the City was forced to find $6 million in street light operating costs this year. The City also has proposed a method by which to address the $24 million it collected from ratepayers over the four years of the program, with an expected $6 million payment this year.
“The court ruling was an especially hard hit for this City as we have already made significant cuts to programs, services and employment due to the economic recession,” said Council President Jan Drago. In all, Seattle has cut $100 million from its budget in the past three years.
In addition to $9.3 million in cuts, revised revenue forecasts have added about another $2 million to the City budget. All but three General Fund departments took cuts. Seattle Center, Library and the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs were held harmless in this latest round of cuts, as they had received substantial cuts in previous rounds. Also left untouched today were all sworn police and firefighting personnel.
Reductions came from a wide array of functions, including eliminating positions, cutting supply and equipment budgets, reducing contracts for services, and changing city policies.
Among the major cuts were:
· $95,000 for Housing Stability/Eviction Prevention;
· $140,000 for homeless women’s hygiene facilities at the YWCA in Belltown;
· $289,000 by reducing from 24 to 14 percent the overhead paid to public defense agencies through the City's contract with King County;
· $335,000 by eliminating three positions, cutting one full-time position to part-time and not filling three vacant positions in the Personnel Department;
· $400,000 for police bicycle patrols and a public-safety initiative for East Precinct communities;
· $450,000 to forego jail and prosecution for DWLS 3rd citations by impounding vehicles or reducing citation to a civil infraction; and
· $1.5 million in maintenance reductions at parks and ballfields, loss of a tree-maintenance specialist, and less money for exhibit improvements at the Seattle Aquarium.
Last month, several Council members met with the Mayor to review options for budget changes, rather than the typical process by which the Mayor submits his own proposals to the Council for review. The budget package passed today left the Mayor’s proposal intact except for one change: $50,000 was taken from a proposed allocation to Hope for Youth and was used to restore proposed cuts to Neighborhood House ($35,000) and Shalom Zone ($14,000), both social service programs.
“The Mayor did not have to include Council representation in his review, and I commend him for including us from the start,” said Councilmember Richard J. McIver, chair of the Budget Committee. “Cutting budgets is never easy, but working together, we identified some top priorities for funding and came to mutual conclusions on where cuts should be made. I look forward to this level of cooperation when we tackle another expected budget deficit this fall.”
After two hours of public comment and deliberation on the budget, all Council members expressed their dismay at having to cut any services or programs. Various amendments were offered, but only one, the substitute funding for Neighborhood House and Shalom Zone, succeeded.
“Every cut hurts,” said Councilmember Richard Conlin. I’m sure every one of us is heartbroken about what cuts are being made. Still, let’s recognize and celebrate the programs we’ve been able to save.”
Among items that were on the table for possible cuts, but remain funded, are adult crossing guards for elementary schools, the Neighborhood Matching Fund, community health centers and a social services outreach worker for the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
“I appreciate the work of the Council group that worked with the Mayor on this budget, and I appreciate saving crossing guards and library hours,” said Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck, who cast the lone vote against the budget package. “But I do believe that the budget is a reflection, during good times and bad, of Council priorities. This budget is not friendly to the poor and disadvantaged.”
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City Council
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