Seattle City Hall stares at $50 million in cuts
“After three or four years of adding ornaments to the budget tree, Seattle leaders are now faced with removing some of the decoration. The fiscal holiday is over. At least $25 million will have to be cut from next year’s budget.”
Not as if it would be any consolation for the City of Kirkland, we are not alone in our budget crunch. Seattle is facing a severe budget cuts as well. Check out this article by C.R. Douglas on Crosscut for a look into what Seattle plans to do about it. Kirkland may be able to learn a thing or two from our neighbor to the west in how to deal with our budget problems.
Both Seattle and Kirkland have found themselves in difficult financial situations as the economy has slowed. Interestingly, the two cities plan to deal with their problems quite differently. It is likely that Seattle is cutting $50 million from its budget. Kirkland plans to both raise taxes and lower service levels (also known as cutting) to deal with our $13.8 million mess.
More from the article:
Of course, any cuts will be spread over many services to minimize the impact, creating lots of little wounds instead of one big gash. Still, you can see why the mayor and City Council are extremely anxious about the city’s fiscal condition. It’s the first time in a few years they’ll really have to say “no.”
Or could they say “yes” by raising taxes? Not very likely, given that Seattle’s taxing sources are pretty much at their legal limit. And it’s rare that politicians impose tax increases during an economic downturn. So slashing spending is the only practical solution.”
Hmmm… it’s rare that politicians impose tax increases during an economic downturn. Any thoughts on what our City Council should do to fix Kirkland’s budget problems? Stay tuned.
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11 Responses to “Seattle City Hall stares at $50 million in cuts”
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By N2H
KCTS 9 Connects - Yakima Valley Gangs
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At this point it appears that most of the governments at all levels are going to have to look hard at what services to keep and how to fund what remains.
It would be nice if they first took a hard look at the contracts that are in place to see if there was not room for any negotiation. It seems unlikely, but if labor unions were willing to play ball then some costs could be lowered without cutting services.
Pet projects are another key place to start. I am all for maintaining Kirkland and keeping graffitti to a minimum, but do we really need a person dedicated full time to this problem as the Kirkland Blog reported yesterday? http://kirklandweblog.typepad.com/kirkland_weblog/2008/07/go-away-taggers.html
I am hoping this is an misunderstanding and that this person actually has other duties as well.
I know it has been suggested that the citizens of Kirkland weigh in on how they would like to see the city manage this issue. I think it would also be very intersting to hear how various city employees think the issue should be addressed. I have to believe that the people working on the lines would have some creative ideas on how to save the city money without having as much of a negative impact on services. I hope that the city seeks their input as well.
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Each institution has people inside that champion their own pet projects. Often these pet projects will be defended by those who benefit most from the project’s existence. This is human nature. But it is not good for the institution when individuals put their own personal well being above that of the organization for which they serve. In this case, a local government is not well served when employees cling to departmental budgets for personal gain. There may be legitimate fear of losing status, control, rank or even employment when your personal fiefdom is targeted by budget cuts. This is the reality of working in a large organization. Individuals throughout the organization make decisions that benefit themselves thereby hurting the productivity of the whole organization. That is why it is so difficult to ever cut budgets, cut staffing, cut anything!
At 123 5th avenue there may some positions which need to be cut to make the whole institution function within the constraints of an economic recession and a schizophrenic electorate. This will not be easy but it is a necessary exercise after years of irresponsible budgeting maneuvers. The City has too many FTE positions funded by one time resources. Needed services are funded by excess revenues that dry up in times of recession. During the good times Kirkland had more money coming in than it had planned on. And they spent it on adding city services. Problem is, when lean times come along, these services no longer have their funding because they were originally funded irresponsibly. There is no accountability for this sort of funding. It should not take place, yet it has for years. Better financial systems need to be implemented. Who is at fault is not an issue here. Correcting the system is. Competent and industrious staff need to be creative to help solve these problems. The city needs the help of staff and citizens to work through this situation because it will only return to revisit us again if we do not.
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Kirkland provides too many “free” services which are quite expensive to maintain. User fees should be broadly implemented as a fair way to tax those who use services.
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Kirkland doesn’t provide too many free services. We all use them. We all pay for them. We all enjoy Kirkland for our quality of life. I would like to see a off leash park. Kirkland is a very dog friendly community and we should recognize this by fulfilling this need. Seattle seems to be better prepared and more friendly toward dogs.
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Why don’t we ask CIVIK for the money? They seem more than willing to waste our time and money serving their own special interests.
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Llamafarmeronedaybe,
Excellent!
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There is a universal truth: NOTHING IS FREE! In this City as in all others the money comes from somewhere: that somewhere is us: primariliy property taxpayers. I don’t know nor care how much money CIVIK has. What I do know is that they didn’t cause the City’s financial shortfall. Disclaimer: I am not and have never been a member of CIVIK, nor any of their subsidiaries if any, nor do I think I know any these people, whoever they may be. I do feel a little slighted as they werent’ part of the welcome wagon when we moved in!
The time to ask questions of our City leaders is now. Budgets are being developed now. Without input from the folks who will pay the taxes and take the hit on a reduction in services don’t be surprised with the end result. I can attest to having to pay user fees for things in the last City I lived where I don’t here. In many ways the things I paid user fees for were better. I have grave concerns after viewing the last budget meeting. Specifically what happens if we use reserves, raise taxes and lower levels of service whatever that means and in another 2 years we are no better off? What if development stops? Then what? Having lived and worked in the midwest and the rust belt during the transition I can tell you that no one was immune. Get involved and tell your neighbors to.
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new2kirkland, your universal truth: NOTHING IS FREE does not apply here. How about free wireless internet in parks. Free hot showers at Houghton Beach. The most extensive television programming you will ever see for a city our size. More parks and recreation and human services programs than you could possibly imagine. Free recycling bins, yard waste bins, food scrap bins… oh those aren’t free, they are compulsory.
You have a lot to learn about Kirkland. It is going on twenty one years for me and I still remember when we didn’t have nor expect government to do so many things for us.
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Dear Shades,
Thanks for straightening me out. How naive of me! I didn’t know all those things are free. It must be someone other than me who is paying for these important things. Now I know why I am still on probation here. Lessons like this will give me the true essence of what it is like to be a Kirkland Tax Payer. Boy do I feel really stupid. I just spent well north of a mill for my home when all I had to do was tell the family to pitch a tent in the park! This really is the land of Oz! “Dorothy, it was just a dream” Yeah right!
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new2kland and Shades of Goldwater for City Council!
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Change is good and I think we need to transform in to some thing else as a city. I don’t think what I want Kirkland to become is what some of the others on this blog want but fair is fair and we all count.
I want more parks, more low income housing and more interest in affordable housing as Kirkland is out of reach for so many. I am concerned about these issues and you should be as well. We will all be there someday.
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