King County proposes no-cuts budget
September 28, 2011
For the first time since 2009, King County’s budget proposal has no cuts in it. Efficiencies and cost savings are to thank, County Executive Dow Constantine said when he presented his 2012 budget proposal to the County Council on Sept. 26.
“My proposed budget is balanced, with no further cuts to services in the General Fund, by working with employees to make this government more efficient,” Constantine said. “Surrounded everywhere by seas of red ink, we have made King County an island of relative stability.”
Constantine’s budget is $5.3 billion, with $648 million in the General Fund.
King County executive presents 2012 budget proposal with no cuts
September 26, 2011
or the first time since 2009, King County’s budget proposal has no cuts in it. Efficiencies and cost savings are to thank, County Executive Dow Constantine said when he presented his 2012 budget proposal to County Council on Monday, Sept. 26.
“My proposed budget is balanced, with no further cuts to services in the General Fund, by working with employees to make this government more efficient,” Constantine said. “Surrounded everywhere by seas of red ink, we have made King County an island of relative stability.”
Snoqualmie City Council raises utility rates to pay off City Hall debt
December 14, 2010
NEW — 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2010
The Snoqualmie City Council passed the city’s 2011 budget, which preserves existing services but raises property taxes and utility rates. The $52.6 million budget puts off filling two positions and purchasing new equipment.
The budget raises utility rates by 3 percent — from 6 percent to 9 percent — to pay for a 10-year loan to pay off debt from City Hall’s construction. The city owes $3 million on the building, which cost $7.34 million and was finished in 2009. It will pay down the debt by $1 million from reserves and cover the rest with the loan.
The council had been considering combining the debt with a bond to pay for infrastructure projects, but decided to split the two, decreasing how much interest the city pays on the City Hall debt.
North Bend City Council passes austere budget
December 8, 2010
NEW — 2:17 p.m. Dec. 8, 2010
[An earlier version of this story misstated the amount of money in North Bend's downtown facade program and how much of the city's revenue comes from sales tax.]
Squeezed by the bad economy, the North Bend City Council passed an austere budget that cuts services and delays capital projects rather than raise taxes. The Council passed the budget with a 5-2 vote after contentious discussion at its Dec. 7 meeting.
The budget’s supporters said it was the best option during hard economic times, which have sapped North Bend’s revenues.
Opponents said the budget’s priorities were out of order and put off dealing with pressing problems.
The budget’s $5.8 million general fund still includes a $100,000 shortfall for paying personnel, which the city must close. It could do that with layoffs, furloughs or concessions from union employees. Mayor Ken Hearing’s administration is in the process of determining which option to use.
“No matter where it comes from, somebody is going to get hurt,” City Administrator Duncan Wilson said.
King County Council adopts budget that shares the pain but saves some services from chopping block
November 15, 2010
NEW — 11:57 p.m. Nov. 15, 2010
The Metropolitan King County Council adopted a $5.1 billion 2011 county budget Nov. 15 that shares the pain of cuts needed to close a $60 million shortfall.
The council’s budget team, which consists of council members, restored money for some vital criminal justice services, and programs that assist survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Criminal justice and public safety services make up 76 percent of the budget’s $621 million general fund. Most of the budget’s $5.1 billion is for dedicated expenditures.
Washington state Legislature faces tough task in balancing budget deficit after voters send anti-tax message
November 5, 2010
NEW — 6:15 p.m. Nov. 5, 2010
Washington State Legislators are reading one clear message in the results of the Nov. 2 election — no new taxes.
That won’t make the Legislature’s job writing a balanced budget for 2012-2013 any easier when it meets in Olympia in January. The state is expected to be short about $4.8 billion.
Raising taxes is a non-starter for many politicians after voters rejected new taxes and repealed an existing tax in several statewide tax initiatives. Voters also approved an initiative that makes it harder for the Legislature to raise new taxes.
Bad economy catches up with local cities’ budgets
October 27, 2010
NEW — 6:27 p.m. Oct. 27, 2010
Despite careful budgeting in recent years, the recession and subsequent lackluster recovery are catching up with North Bend and Snoqualmie, and forcing the two cities to make tough decisions in their 2011 budgets.
Officials in both cities find themselves in the same predicament: Expenses are rising, and revenue is flat or falling.
“Our situation is very tenuous,” North Bend City Administrator Duncan Wilson said.
Snoqualmie’s Interim Financial Director Robert Orton echoed that sentiment in an interview with the Star.
Rising expenses
Snoqualmie and North Bend have seen their costs rise even while revenues remain flat or have fallen.
The rise in expenses has largely been driven by increases to wages and benefits, especially for North Bend.
The cost of North Bend’s contract for police services with the King County Sheriff’s Office is rising 14 percent.
EFR greenlights ambulance fees
October 21, 2010
NEW — 10:06 a.m. Oct. 21, 2010
Where are you hurt?
Do you know your name?
Are you paying with debit or credit?
Beginning next year, Eastside Fire & Rescue will charge patients for ambulance rides in nonlife-threatening situations. The fire agency’s board of directors adopted the new fees in a 7-1 vote at its Oct. 14 meeting.
The board also considered charging fees for responding to car crashes, but voted 5-3 against it.
The estimated revenue from the new fees won’t make up the about $500,000 in savings EFR is looking for in its 2011 budget, according to EFR Chief Lee Soptich.
The fees were proposed as part of EFR’s attempt to come up with a budget for 2011 that meets rising costs and does not increase costs for its partners, which include North Bend and Fire District 38. Sammamish and other EFR partners have pushed the agency to not increase its costs.
To do that, the board either has to add fees or cut services, Soptich said.
Eastside Fire & Rescue adopts ambulance fees
October 15, 2010
NEW — 3:20 p.m. Oct. 15, 2010
Where are you hurt?
Do you know your name?
Are you paying with debit or credit?
Beginning next year, Eastside Fire & Rescue will charge patients for ambulance rides in non-life threatening situations. The fire agency’s board of directors adopted the new fees in a 7-1 vote at its Oct. 14 meeting.
The board also considered charging fees for responding to car crashes, but voted 5-3 against it.
The estimated revenue from the new fees won’t make up the about $500,000 in savings EFR is looking for in its 2011 budget, according to EFR Chief Lee Soptich.
Ambulance fees worth considering
September 1, 2010
NEW — 1:00 p.m. Sept. 1, 2010
Yes, the economy has not turned around, but sometimes government cannot simply slice and dice its way to a balanced budget. All ideas are on the table for increasing revenue — including an Eastside Fire & Rescue fee for ambulance rides.
Hit by falling tax revenue, contract cities, including North Bend, are interested in keeping their expenses as low as possible. Necessity has produced some interesting ideas. Charging for ambulance rides is one worth examining.
This practice exists in other parts of the country, and indeed, in other parts of King County. No critically injured person has yet to be denied a ride to the hospital because they had a maxed-out credit card.
Most agencies, when pressed, admit they don’t invest much time and energy trying to extract payments from residents who can’t afford to pay. Most insurance providers cover the cost of the ambulance ride, and they do pay their claims. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the ride is provided by a private ambulance company or a public fire agency.
But it may not be that simple. It is possible that costs would end up being passed on to residents and businesses through higher insurance premiums. EFR should study that possible impact during its discussions.
There is also some concern about the idea of double charging. After all, residents already pay for the ambulance, the salary of the emergency medical technicians, the gas in the vehicle and everything else through their taxes. Should they have to pay a second time, whether it be through a direct payment or via higher insurance?
In a fair and perfect world, no.
But today’s reality is neither of those things, and is full of examples of government double-dipping. Taxpayers already pay tolls to drive on roads they paid to build, and fees to use park facilities that they already own. Taxpayers have put up with it, recognizing the fee model as a more equitable way of distributing costs.
Unfortunately, the charge for EFR to give medical transport to a hospital or to another waiting ambulance is probably necessary.
