Friday, March 29, 2024

Pateros council approves 2022 operating budget

Some fee schedule increases

Posted

PATEROS – The city council held three public hearings and approved a handful of resolutions and ordinances at its regular monthly virtual Zoom meeting on Nov. 15. The public was invited to comment on a 2021 budget amendment, the 2022 fee schedule, and the 2022 operating budget, EMS tax, and property tax. Following the hearings council approved all the above in one resolution and four ordinances plus a second resolution for a state Department of Commerce (DOC) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) agreement.
2022 Operating Budget
The city adopted its 2022 operating budget totaling $2,415,175 summarized as follows:
    FUND                            BUDGETED
General Fund                            $817,055
Street Fund                              530,762
Water Fund                              328,409
Sewer Fund                              280,990
Garbage Utility Fund                          123,500
Capital Improvement – Sewer                  120,205
Water Debt Fund                            76,719
Capital Improvement – Water                   62,435
Hotel-Motel Fund                            47,100
Capital Improvement                             15,000
Equipment Fund                             13,000
2022 Fee Schedule
The majority of fees included in the 2022 fee schedule remain the same as the previous year with the exception of water and sewer. Water and sewer rates will increase by 5.2 percent which is the Consumers Price Index (CPI) rate. For example:
Water Connection
¾ inch    - $1,126.89 to 1,185.49
1 inch - $1,502.65 to 1,580.79
1.5 inch - $2,255,29 to 2,372.57
2 inch - $3,382.97 to 3,588.88
Reconnect fee: $1,126.89 to 1,185.49
CDBG
The $30,000 CDBG General Purpose Grant was awarded the city planning and construction standards.
“The project will result in integrated design standards and city code updates,” said the DOC award. “The project will provide an area benefit to the City of Pateros service area consisting of approximately 653 persons with 60.34 percent having low and moderate incomes based on 2019 HUD LM data. This project will accomplish HUD’s outcome of increasing the community’s availability and access to sustainable infrastructure systems to achieve HUD’s objective of creating suitable living environments.”
The city approved a one percent increase in the property tax levy for the 2022 budget year. The district’s levy total from 2021 was $152,233. The 2022 levy amount will increase to $155, 094, not including revenue from new construction, property improvements, annexations, and similar additions.
In other council business city administrator Jord Wilson said the Pateros Motel has joined him in discussions with Douglas County PUD regarding the trail project extending from Memorial Park to Ives Landing. Wilson has included the need for a gazebo similar to the new ones in Memorial Park. He said the PUD is working on a wildlife kiosk for Memorial Park.
“Lake Pateros will have several kiosks,” said Wilson, “and they will be primarily interactive with cell phones.”
The Welcome Center Project is moving forward. The project committee has received 13 responses so far from a survey delivered to every city business by Mayor Carlene Anders. The committee was scheduled to meet with its consultant before submitting a design to the business community for its comment.
A Capital Improvement Plan survey has generated 44 responses as of this writing and will remain open until Dec. 6. In a related issue the city met with NCW Libraries on Nov. 19, to discuss capital facilities planning. NCW recently announced a $10 million renovation and upgrade campaign that will include the Pateros branch as one of 28 of NCW’s 30 branches affected.
“The survey is very important in helping the city prioritize future projects and allocation of resources,” Wilson said.
Major insurance companies have dropped coverage for the states of Washington and California following high awards for liability claims. The Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA) of the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) has taken the issue under consideration. Wilson said the RMSA Operating Board met and discussed the volatile liability insurance market. RMSA provides property and liability coverage for Washington cities and towns particularly those of small to medium size approximately 100 of which are members of the insurance pool. Wilson was recently elected vice chairman of the RMSA committee.
The next meeting of the city council is at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 20.
 

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