CITY BUDGET

What is necessary for the city?

I am troubled about the current direction of the budget for the City of Redmond.

According to the city’s Web site www.ci.redmond.wa.us, there are several areas of concern I would like to have investigated further with regards to the current budget discussions:

• Wastewater increases for Redmond residents of 6 percent for each of the next two years (2009/2010). Novelty Hill residents can expect an increase of 27 percent in wastewater utility rate increases over those same two years. Per the city, this is due to pass-through costs from King County Metro for wastewater collection and treatment. For the average homeowner the increase equates to 22 cents per day.

• $300,000 on an updated city Web site

• $250,000 survey on responsible government

• $200,000 for a compensation analyst to ensure the city employees are being paid at a standard scale with other workers in like occupations.

• $3 million on implementing an already developed plan.

• $1.6 million to develop an Innovation and Efficiency Contingency plan.

The Council and Mayor appear to be willing to spend large amounts of money on our city while “Rome burns.” The budget items were chosen based on a survey conducted in February, when the economy was stronger.

During financial downturns, most of us find ways in which to trim our budgets, cut our costs and lower our unnecessary expenses; although these cuts may not completely dissolve the financial strain, they go quite a ways in alleviating the pressure on many families.

Redmond is a fantastic city and our residents enjoy a multitude of benefits. We have beautiful parks, schools that receive honors, roads and buildings that provide a life far in excess of what many other towns can boast.

Keeping up with the Joneses can only be economically devastating for the taxpayers in our area. I strongly encourage all residents and taxpayers to urge our Mayor and council to evaluate what is necessary for our city.

Figures are detailed on the City Web site at http://www.ci.redmond.wa.us/insidecityhall/finance/budget/0908PrelimPDFs/BudgetAtAGlance.pdf

Paige Norman

Redmond