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Proposed budget cuts impact services as well as staff
10/27/2010 9:21:56 AM
By Kelly Moore
Splash Staff Writer
City of Liberty Lake employees affected by last week's announcement of staff cutbacks shed some light this week on how city services may be impacted in their absence.
In an attempt to balance a wayward budget, Liberty Lake Mayor Wendy Van Orman announced at the Oct. 19 City Council meeting that notices had been given to city employees affected by planned reductions. This included a seasonal layoff of two Trailhead Golf Course employees, a reduction of two full-time library positions from full-time to part-time and the termination of a part-time employee in the planning department.
Changes at the library
The most visible impact to community services will likely play out at the city's municipal library. Contingent on the approved budget is a reduction in library staffing. Two full-time employees, Library Director Pamela Mogen and Circulation Supervisor Georgette Rogers, will be reduced to half-time effective Dec. 31. The city called for $130,000 in cuts from the library, the rest of which Mogen said will likely be made up with reduced service hours.
Mogen said she's planning the revised library budget based on reducing weekly operating hours from 46 to 24. She said patrons can expect to use the library during four six-hour days effective Dec. 31. The library is currently open for eight hours on weekdays and six hours on Saturday.
Mogen said the reduced hours of operation will almost certainly mean a reduction in staffing. Aside from the two full-time employees who'll work reduced hours next year, the library currently employs eight other staff members who work between 11 and 24 hours per week. Advertisement
Utility tax intended to help city get beyond shortfall
It's a simple math question. For the past several months, the City Council has been exploring options for closing an anticipated $700,000 budget shortfall for 2011. Last week, the Council announced staff and services cutbacks and passed a 6 percent utility tax expected to generate $825,000 annually.
Which has led some to ask: Why generate a combination of savings and revenue that exceeds the shortfall?
Community Development Director Doug Smith said the utility tax would not only help cover the deficit but also go toward deferred costs that have resurfaced from the $1.32 million carved out of the city's budget since 2008. He also explained that the tax could address the now-stagnant cash flow.
No other cuts directly affecting city staff are anticipated, but line-item cuts will be discussed when the budget is presented at the next meeting Nov. 2.
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Mogen said she'd also have to scale back on the time she spends searching for and applying for grants as well as time for staff training.
As far as programming goes, the library will have to cut staff visits to schools and modify story time hours. The summer reading program, Mogen said, will "absolutely" continue as a library staple.
"It's always been the main thing we do over the summer," Mogen said. "But it very well may be the only thing we do this summer."
Mogen said the library staff and board members are staying positive and hope to continue negotiating with the City Council.
She also explained that while reworking the library budget, she's looking for any cuts she can make to prevent further staff reductions. This includes reducing the book budget by 85 percent and asking community members to sign up to donate certain books.
"We'll need volunteers more than ever to help out in the library and also with Friends of the Library," Mogen said.
Changes at Trailhead
A less direct impact to the community also contingent on the final budget is the seasonal layoff of Golf Superintendent Ron Knudsen and Golf Pro Mollie Thola. Traditionally, when the golf course closed for the season, the city kept the employees working full-time year-round. However, this year, the employees will be laid off effective Nov. 12.
Knudsen said he normally switches over to maintenance, monitoring and planning in the winter.
"I know people think of a golf course and wonder what there is to do in the winter, but I keep busy," Knudsen said.
He said in November, he usually starts prepping the course for a long season of snow with treatments to prevent certain diseases, aeration, fertilizers and debris pickup. He said he also renews his pesticide license in November through continuing education and plans future projects and policies through discussions with staff.
When hard winter hits, he monitors the greens to catch anything that could cause problems when spring rolls around. These tasks include enforcing rules like no sledding or walking on the golf course area, pruning and checking for geese damage.
During the winter, he also repaints and repairs all the golf course signage and some fencing and benches. In addition, Knudsen plows the snow in the walkways and restaurant parking lot and handles the custodial duties for the restrooms, entrance and banquet area.
"It might be interesting around here come spring," Knudsen said, explaining that he didn't know what the course would look like after a winter with no maintenance. "I don't know what the city's plan is."
Thola, who was brought on by the city as its inaugural golf pro in time for Trailhead's grand opening in 2003, was not available for comment. Knudsen's leadership is largely credited with vast improvements to the course layout and upkeep after the former Valley View Golf Course was purchased by the city in 2002.
Mogen was hired as the new library's first full-time director in December 2003, and Rogers joined the staff in 2004.
None of the employees contacted have made any decisions about their future in their current positions.
"Georgette and I both just have to do what is best for our families," Mogen said.
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