To simplify things, this site is switching over to the Facebook platform. Future updates will be published here.
If you’ve got a Facebook account, you’ll be able to “Like” the page and have updates published automatically into your News Feed. You can also comment on posts and ask questions on the page.
Even if you’re not a Facebook member, you can still view the posts and keep up to date with what’s happening in the city.
See you at the new site!
Would you pay more for more services? Or are you satisfied with what the level of service the city can provide now?
Those are the main questions we’re going to consider at a special workshop on Tuesday, March 8. You’re invited to come give us your take as we consider ideas like raising general property taxes or perhaps creating special taxing districts with revenue restricted for certain uses, such as streets, police, parks or the library. Most of the options we consider would require voter approval for implementation.
The city’s declining revenues have put us in a position that means we can’t provide the same services we used to. We don’t do nuisance abatement now, we’re essentially without a street department, and we will likely lose four or five more police positions at the end of 2011. Is that okay, or would you rather pay a bit more and get back some of the services we may have lost the last couple years?
This is an important workshop. I hope you can come share your thoughts.
Loading ...A copy of the final budget was released to the council at the February 15th meeting. Of course, we’ve got a copy for you to review here on TalkingKelso.
I left the council meeting last night feeling like I’d been kicked in the gut. After working to save jobs in the police department, we had to pass a budget that called for layoffs.
When we first learned of the impact our projected budget would have on KPD, some of us began working on a plan to keep some of the officers that would be lost. We needed around $300,000 to pay the salaries and benefits for the four positions that were threatened. The proposal we made was, reduce departmental salaries by 5%, and we’ll fund the rest of the shortage.
The 5% reduction would have saved the city around $90,000. That means the council would have put a little over $200,000 back into the budget to save the officers. The city’s ultimate offer included three additional floating holidays each year, and an additional four floaters during 2011, when the salaries would be reduced. The city manager and police chief also agreed to reduce their pay by 5% if the officers agreed to the deal.
We found out earlier Tuesday afternoon that the proposal had not been approved by the Association. The margin was apparently one vote.
Even though our offer was rejected, we considered putting our share of the money back into the budget to save some of the positions. We just don’t think we’re going to have the money to spend in 2011, though. We do have a reserve fund, but it’s dwindling fast as we’ve tried to use it to prevent things like this the last couple years. Continuing that downward spiral was just not sustainable, and the council voted 5-1 not to throw funds toward reducing the layoffs.
That vote hurt. We’re losing some good officers who work hard for the citizens of Kelso. I wish we had a better answer.
On Thanksgiving, it’s time to sit back and think about the things we’re thankful for – as we watch football and gorge ourselves. When it comes to working on the council, I’m thankful for:
I learned today that the city was awarded a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board for $4.6 million to continue the West Main realignment project. I’m not sure exactly what that means in terms of the project’s timing, but I would imagine it’s safe to say that it increases the chances that the project actually comes to fruition.
A list of the projects that received TIB grants around the state is located on the TIB website. For what it’s worth, our award was the largest in the state!
We just received the first shot at the 2011-2012 budget, and the good news is, it’s balanced. The bad news is, whatever your favorite program or department is, its funding was reduced.
Our finance director and department heads have done a good job getting this to be balanced with only using $65,000 out of our reserve (savings) in 2011.
If you’d like to see the entire budget, you can find it below. It’s a very large file, so make sure you’ve got some spare time.
Well, it sounds like we aren’t the only ones who have been having a hundred people show up for a council meeting.
In Walla Walla, a store painted a huge mural over their storefront. One problem: the city’s sign ordinance doesn’t allow anything that large.
Although passionate citizens came to argue on behalf of the mural, the council held the course, and did not change the rule. Sometimes, there’s a reason why something that seems innocuous on its face is not allowed.
Via KEPRtv.com
Kelso News