News Roundup – Council OK’s budget pact

Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Council OK’s budget pact

The City Council on Monday balanced the preliminary 2007 budget, pegging costs at approximately $49 million.

Action on the council’s last budget workshop included approval of a $1.5 million council-matic bond that pours funding into efforts to preserve open space and expand non-motorized transportation infrastructure.

The bond was opposed by some councilors who characterized it as city financing through debt.

“Council bonds are there to deal with emerging issues or catastrophic events,” said Councilman Bill Knobloch, who opposed the bond. “While we value open space, using council-matic bonds for this is disturbing to me.”

Councilman Chris Snow also opposed the bond, arguing that the measure “shows a lack of fiscal responsibility.”

Council Chair Bob Scales stressed that the issuing of bonds is project-based and not connected to regular city costs.

“We won’t issue (bond funds) if these projects don’t move forward,” he said. “We’re not issuing bonds to cover operating expenses, paying staff for consultants.

“It’s for long-term assets.”

Councilwoman Debbie Vancil agreed, stressing that new parks and bike lanes are supported by many islanders.

“It’s building equity for us,” she said. “It’s a very wise decision and I think we have community support (for it.) We could increase the budget, but we’re not doing that.”

Final approval of the bond was close, with five councilors voting for it, and two against.

The council also lopped a $1.5 million line item for open space down to $1,350,000. A half-million dollars for trails was cut down to $350,000.

Some councilors said the two cuts reduced redundancies with the approved bond.

The council also restored $16,000 requested by the Trust for Working Landscapes.

Councilman Kjell Stoknes supported the funding but expressed some hesitance.

“I just don’t know if there’s farmers out there” to take advantage of city-owned farmlands, he said.

Total city funding for agriculture in 2007 was set at about $66,000.

The public is invited to comment on the preliminary budget at the Dec. 13 council meeting. The council expects to approve the budget on that day.

-Tristan Baurick