City likely to cut, reduce 5 positions

The Stanwood City Council sat down last week to begin work on a tough 2010 budget.

Each department head was asked to budget for the current level of service with fewer dollars, said Joyce Papke, city administrator.

Even with a bare bones budget proposed by department heads, the city was still $600,000 in the hole, or about 10 percent of the general fund, Papke said.

Some of the solutions city planners suggested to balance the budget include laying off three employees and cutting two 40-hour positions to 20-hour positions as of Jan. 1 and cutting $150,000 for economic development, she said.

The city is also proposing a 5.5 percent increase in the sewer utility tax, a 3 percent increase in cable and an 8 percent increase in water.

In addition, the city plans to use about $5,500 in one-time revenue by transferring the balance in three unused funds for drug seizure, fire station construction and physical fitness for firefighters into the general fund, said Crystil Robinson, city finance director.

Department heads have also made cuts during the year. Robinson estimates the city will come out $553,556 under budget for 2009.

Cutting those expenses will allow the city to start 2010 in better shape, said Councilman Bill Carlton.

However, the proposed budget does not include funding for Christmas lights, July 4 fireworks, the Harvest Jubilee or the Twin City Idlers car show, Robinson said.

Papke suggested the city should look at joining the Sno-Isle Libraries district, which means the Sno-Isle Libraries levy would apply to city residents, and the city would no longer pay the library contract fee.

The Stanwood Library will cost the city an estimated $215,728 in 2010.

The city will also be looking at a full contract with Camano Island Fire and Rescue, Papke said. Currently, the city contracts with the fire district for administration, emergency medical services, part-time firefighters and emergency management. A full contract would mean that the Stanwood-Camano Fire Department fulltime firefighters, who are currently city employees, would be fire district employees instead.

Both the city and fire district will hire a consultant to examine the option.

The city received a refund of $141,000 from Camano Island Fire and Rescue in 2009 that it will not receive in 2010, Papke said. It actually costs the fire district around $907,000 to provide advanced life support and transport services to the city of Stanwood.

The city paid $250,000 to the district, and the district collected transportation fees from customers up to the contract fee of $550,000, Robinson said. For any amount over the $550,000, the district previously refunded the fees to the city. However, due to the cost of service, a refund will not happen in 2010.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.