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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 City of Port Townsend (360) 379-5047 (email: citycouncil@ci.port-townsend.wa.us) www.ci.port-townsend.wa.us October 2004 Council News From Mayor Catharine Robinson As you have read previously in this newsletter, for several years the City has been adapting to state- wide referendums that have removed revenue and that have restricted property tax revenue. I-695 (1999) re- moved about $100,000 in annual City funding earmarked for street improvements. I-747 (2001) capped in- creases in property taxes to the City at 1% per year. At the same time, the quantity of City services increases, and their cost goes up faster than the 1% increase in property tax revenues. For example, calls for police service increased from about 6,200 calls in 2003 to an estimated 8,660 calls in 2004, an increase of 39%. Calls for fire service increased from about 1,200 in 2003 to an estimated 1,550 in 2004, an increase of 24%. The increase in calls for service results in the City paying the County dispatch agency 30% more in 2005 than in 2004 ($232,000 for 2005, an increase of $53,400 over the $178,500 for this year). In 1995, the City took over the pool from the County, and currently finances approximately $110,000 from gen- eral fund towards its operation. Contracted costs for services with the County have increased over the years. For example, jail costs currently average $91,500/year over the last three years. Eight years ago, the three year average was $8,500/year. The cost of salaries and labor contracts grew by about 1.62% last year. Health costs (even with employees now paying a greater portion of health costs) are estimated to rise 6% in 2005 and projected to rise 10% per year over the following four years. Likewise, the cost of services and goods purchased by the City also has grown by at least the consumer price index (CPI), which has averaged about 1.7% over the last three years. At the same time, staffing level is lower than it was in 1998. Since 1998, staff has been reduced in general services depart- ments, and increased in police and fire services. To address this situation, the Council, on recommendation of the Council Finance Committee, voted on Septem- ber 15 to approve Resolution 04-052 which places the following proposition on the November 2004 ballot. “The City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington adopted Resolution 04-052 concerning regular property tax limitations. If approved, this proposition would authorize the City to impose a maximum regular property tax levy of $2.94/$1,000 of assessed value in 2005. That maximum levy would be used to compute future levy limits under ch. 84.55 RCW. The revenues collected in excess of RCW 84.55.010 limitations would be used to maintain current levels of service. Should this proposition be approved?“ If approved, the levy would result in approximately a $760,000 increase in property tax revenue (from $1,465,000 to $2,225,000). The levy would increase property taxes by about $1 per $1,000 of assessed valua- tion. For example, property currently assessed at $200,000 now pays a total property tax of about $2,239. If the levy is approved, the property tax for this property would be $2,439, an increase of $200. The tax increase from the levy is closely calculated by taking a property’s assessed valuation, and dropping the last three digits (for example, increase for property assessed at $200,000 is $200). The levy money would be used to maintain existing City services. The Council also passed Resolution 04-053, stating its intention to cut funding for certain city programs by $770,000, if the ballot proposition to raise the city property tax levy fails in November. Those program cuts identified are parks maintenance ($200,000, out of a total 2004 budget of $290,000), the swimming pool ($135,000 out of a total 2004 budget of $200,000), recrea- tion programs ($90,000, representing the total amount paid to the Jefferson County Y), community non-profit programs ($120,000, representing the total general fund amounts paid to programs, including the Economic Development Council, Main Street, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program, Boiler Room, and the Farmer’s Market) and two new Firefighter/EMT positions and one new police officer position ($225,000). Through the budget process this fall, other City programs could also be identified for cuts. It is also possible that the Street Fund would not be fully funded yet again if the ballot measure fails. The Council continues to work on ways to fund services to the public. This means maintaining our streets as part of the City’s assets. It also means maintaining public safety (police and fire) personnel staffing at minimum levels. A copy of Resolution 04-053 is enclosed with this newsletter. A copy of Resolution 04-052 placing the levy on the ballot and giving additional background is on the City website: http://www.ci.port-townsend.wa.us/. A fact sheet will also be on the City website in the next week. From Police Chief Kristen Anderson If you read the Police Blotter in the Leader, you may be under the impression that it is a comprehen- sive accounting of what the Port Townsend Police Department does. In fact, it is a very small sam- pling, we run approximately 163 calls for service each week. This is an average of more than 700 calls per month, contrasted with the previous average of just over 500 calls each month from the past several years. We average two patrol officers on duty at any given time, so any high-risk call requiring two officers ties up our entire available staff. A growing number of special events require several officers to work overtime to ensure availability for other emergencies. Citizen volunteers assist at special events and perform other services and this frees up regular officers to allow them to perform law enforcement services. Police officer staffing is typically measured as a ratio of officers per thousand residents. Our staffing levels are currently at 1.9 officers per thousand; which translates to fifteen officers in a city of 8,334 people. Taking our high visitor numbers into consideration, officers are serving far more than the local population on a daily basis. A comparison of thirteen small Washington cities ranked us eleventh in police officer staffing, making officer safety a noteworthy concern, particularly since we are in a rural environment without ample police back-up nearby. We work to find ways to address this important issue, including expanded collaboration with the sheriff’s office. Please feel free to contact me with any comments. From Fire Chief Mike Mingee It didn’t take long for me to realize that our Fire Department is as busy as any suburban Fire Hall. 9-1-1 emergencies are answered at an average rate of 5 to 6 requests a day. I can tell you from experience that a fully paid and staffed suburban Fire Hall anywhere in this country doesn’t receive more activity than our small combined staff Fire Department. The only difference is that the Port Townsend Fire Department attempts to accomplish the task before them with less than half of the staffing numbers in most areas with the same volume of calls. I am pleasantly surprised by the dedication and professionalism of the volunteers in the City. They have an important role in the Fire Department response plan, but truthfully they all have jobs to go to and mouths to feed. It is unrealistic to expect that the volunteers are always available 24 / 7 for the next 9-1-1 request. In fact, at times we have one Paramedic ambulance staffed. This means that when the first 9-1-1 re- quest is answered by City personnel, most often your next Paramedic comes from outside the City, sometimes as far away as Port Ludlow. While we have the capability to respond to a call, we do not have the same capability to respond to a second call. Through negotiations with the surrounding Fire Districts, we are working at upgrading the staffing so that mini- mum National Standards can be met for initial and secondary service requests. We have a long way to go, so I encourage all citizens to work with the City Fire Department or the County Fire Districts to help us help you. Let me conclude by stating that the Port Townsend Fire Department is your Fire Department. Every citizen and taxpayer has an interest in it. I invite you to come by and see the progress on the New Fire Hall, which was paid for almost entirely with Federal funding. I pledge to make your Firefighters available to you for public education. I am also available to answer any question you may have and I thank all of you again for asking me to come and lead your Fire Department through the many challenges of the future.