City of Kirkland service reductions take effect Jan. 1

At its Dec. 7 meeting, the Kirkland City Council adopted the 2011-2012 Budget, the 2011-2016 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the 2011 Property Tax Levy. The two-year budget totals approximately $449 million, which is a 12.8 percent increase from the previous biennial budget du

December 15, 2010 5:04 pm
City of Kirkland
City of Kirkland

At its Dec. 7 meeting, the Kirkland City Council adopted the 2011-2012 Budget, the 2011-2016 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the 2011 Property Tax Levy. The two-year budget totals approximately $449 million, which is a 12.8 percent increase from the previous biennial budget due to increases in revenue and expenditures in the annexation area.

The budget is comprised of 24 separate funds that are independently balanced (i.e. revenues equal expenditures). The CIP is a six-year plan that addresses construction, repair, maintenance and acquisition of major capital facilities and equipment to improve transportation, utilities, parks, and buildings in the city. The property tax levy establishes the total dollars in property tax to be received by the city, which is translated into a rate per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The preliminary budget is currently available online at www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/budget; the final budget document will be available in hard copy and online by the end of March.

The 2011-2012 Budget was balanced primarily through service reductions,some of which are highlighted below and will take effect beginning Jan. 1:

• Public Safety Services

• Eliminate Police ProActive Unit. (Funding will be revisited following the state’s Legislative Session when the city will have a better understanding of its needs to finance any unfunded State mandates.)

• Institute temporary closure of fire stations when staffing levels fall below minimum standards. (Closures may not be necessary with the planned implementation of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transportation fees that will allow the city to bill insurance providers for medical transportation.)

• Eliminate Police Department Corrections Officer and Fire Department Community Education & Public Information Specialist positions.

• Parks, Recreation and Community Services

• Eliminate remaining seasonal labor hours for park maintenance. This reduction and previous reductions will result in less maintenance (e.g. restroom cleaning and garbage collection) at community and waterfront parks and the continuation of year-round closures of bathrooms at neighborhood parks and elimination of portable toilets at several parks.

• Further reduction of staff support for human and youth services programs.

A comprehensive list of service reductions implemented in 2009 and 2010 and those that take effect in 2011 and 2012 will be posted to the city’s Web site at www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/budget. The city will be preparing to provide service to the annexation area of Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate areas throughout the next two years. To obtain a copy of the “Budget In Brief” pamphlet, call the Finance and Administration Department at 425-587-3100, e-mail 11-12budget@ci.kirkland.wa.us or download it from the budget Web page.