It is not a surprise to anyone that most government revenues have fallen in 2009 and it is no different for the City of Redmond.
This past summer, Redmond eliminated several temporary positions funded by the Microsoft Corporation when Microsoft discontinued its Redmond construction projects and exercised its option to terminate the funding agreement with the City. This fall, the City has made the difficult decision to eliminate several more positions in the Development Review division, due to a marked slowdown in development activity.
"Just as we did this past summer, the City continues to right-size its operations for the current economic conditions," states Mayor John Marchione. "While reducing positions is always done with very deliberate thought, we committed to this balanced approach to our finances during our 2008 budget deliberations."
"Through specific budget reductions, holding the line on expenditures and the one percent property tax increase provided for in the 2009/2010 budget, we are confident we can continue to honor our service and program commitments to the City's residents and businesses," states Redmond Council President Nancy McCormick.
The City of Redmond will begin planning for the 2011/2012 budget biennium early next year. As in 2008, residents and businesses will continue to play a role in confirming the City's budget and service priorities. For information about these next steps, contact the Mayor's office at 425-556-2101 or mayor@redmond.gov .
-- City Web Site, 12/5
At the last council meeting, the Mayor told the public 19 jobs were eliminated, 4 workers got walking papers that day.
ReplyDeleteIt's estimated that up to 11-15 of the remaining jobs that were eliminted were funded by Microsoft, not the city.
Labor costs are not as bad as we were led to believe last night and I'm glad the Administration fessed up to it in their press release today. Thank you, Mayor.
Not certain if "many" or "several" of the eliminated were Microsoft funded workers I and dug into the 2009-2010 Budget for some guidance. Page iv says "the net change of Full Time Employees (FTE) is an increase of 7.5 FTE, four of which are limited duration to support zoning code updates..." These 4 laid off workers and the 4 workers laid off yesterday leaves 11 eliminated workers funded by Microsoft and/or the city. Only the city knows.
ReplyDeleteThe city assiduosly reads comments on this blog, but never gives constructive feedback. Yet they ask for feedback from us! (And then complain when when the facts are wrong!)
Taking into account the net 3.5 FTES they hired early this year, the net reduction in workforce is 15.5 FTE's not 19.
I agree with you Bob that the city is not being very straightforward regarding the net growth or reduction in city staff. That's the sacred cow, didn't you know?
ReplyDeleteIt's so very difficult for government to shrink itself which is why I am so adamant about limiting its ability to increase spending, as this inevitably leads to an increase in city staff.
Then, when income declines, city staff are usually the last to go. Other items like park closures and cuts to public safety are then paraded out to the chopping block in an attempt to extract more cash out of the public.
King County has been doing just this lately (sheriff's department, parks, animal control, etc), and we saw it in Redmond just a couple of years ago.
And one more minor point that bears mentioning: when the city budgets a 16% increase in spending, and this budgeted increase gets reduced back to 8% (as happened during the end of the Ives administration, numbers approximate), the city still considers this a CUT, even though the overall size of the budget is still increasing. Hmmm . . .
PART I
ReplyDeleteJP - Again, you make some very good points.
At the last Council meeting, the Mayor defended his levy request by admitting his budget went up 8%... BUT costs were cut by 8%, so no blood. 70% of city expenses are for salary and benefits. Do you think that's high?
I agree, the city's first trump card played to justify increases is public safety. Cole played it at the last meeting. It's the city's Ace of Spades.
The Lake Washington School District's "no child left behind" trump card is probably as effective, if not more. Caring for our children is sacrosanct and may even trump public safety. When is the last time a bond or levy didn't pass for city fire or LW schools?
With the LWSD Support Professionals Union "fighting for living wages," you start to wonder how bad it is for the Administration? (It's not!)
I wouldn't be surprised to see the "fight for living wages" continue all the way to election day, 2/9. Other than kids, could you ask for a better sympathy vote?
I've done some "Freedom of Information" research on local executive government salaries. I was truly shocked by LWSD. Dr Kimball's (CEO/Superintendent/Board Secretary) salary is $192,000 salary. The Deputy Superintendent/COO salary is $157,000. The 3-4 Chief Officers salary is $144,000. The Directors are paid $135,305. The Coordinators are paid $120,740! I'm still waiting for the incentive bonus, retirement, and allowance benefits.
Contrast LWSD'S higher executive salaries to the Mayor's $105,996 salary and you can guess who is: 1) under greater public scrutiny, 2) working harder for less, and 3) is elected/not hired, so constrained by politics. MARCHIONE. Not to mention, the Mayor is out busting his butt all year long and doesn't enjoy a 2-month summer pause as do the School executives.
John Marchione busts his butt for the People. He works most evenings, his chamber meetings are about 2X as long and complex as Kimball's, and he has to deal with the public and heavy politics 24/7~ He's a public figure and expected to go to scores of community events/year. I've seen Doctor Kimball at high school football games.
The School Board's "Work" sessions are held in a back room, last 45 minutes, over a hot, catered dinner buffet -- no audiotapes, no video, no substantial minutes. The public doesn't show up because the Board considers the dinner-meeting "private" so don't announce the topic, time and place during Reg. Mtgs, nor do they report on their "work" at Reg. Meetings.
JP, take a listen at this LWSD governance process: During "Work Session" dinner "linkage" meetings, the
$121K-157K "executives" are all there. Kimball talks 85% of the time. The "executives" are mute - Kimball told me specifically, that staff is there to listen ONLY! The Board of Directors for the most part are briefed by Kimball for the Regular meeting which usually follows the dinner-work sessions.
I like the LWSD executive staff to death, but there's only one that can stand up to City of Redmond executives and she's rated only at the Coordinator pay level!!!
The School Board of Directors are the only locally elected officials who won't accept a modicum salary - which by Charter is rightfully theirs. They behave more like appointed volunteers than elected officials.
By refusing the Peoples pay ($50/mtg.) they are shirking responsibility for governing and lowering the standards of the office. My, my if they took pay, they COULD be pressed by their constituents to speak up for them within their community district! Of course that would entail attending community meetings and representing parents and kids on Title One issues, and the like. Oh, but that's real WORK (dealing with the public) - not a dinner-meeting.
(next - Evergreen Board of Commissioner salaries)
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ReplyDeleteThe Evergreen Hospital District Commissioneers aren't afraid to take what is rightfully theirs. Each Commissioner is paid $104/per full or partial day.
ReplyDeleteAs for executive pay, according to Laurene Burton, Evergreen's Public Disclosure Act Officer, CEO Brown was paid in 2008 a salary of $558,578,40 and Incentive Bonus of $261,149.61. Retirement benefits can be huge. I'm requesting them.
Mr. Brown's hospital 2008 budget is ~$490M vs. the $384M budget for Dr. Kimball's LWSD. Brown's salary and benefits are ~4X higher than the CEO's of LWSD and the City of Redmond. Why so much?? Not being an elected official helps. Lots of lawyers around to back him doesn't hurt. It's got to be those insuurance companies again! Cities and School Districts don't count on that cash cow!!!
Of our three local government's which CEO has the most public scrutiny? MAYOR MARCHIONE, the lowest paid. Which CEO has the least public scrutiny? EVERGREEN CEO BROWN, the highest paid.
RE public participation and scrutiny - it's a tight ship. Evergreen Hospital's Board of Director's meetings are not video taped or audio taped and meeting packets (with Minutes)weren't available at the meeting I attended. Public Records Request Forms are not available online or from the hospital. The Evergreen website posts rudimentary monthly balance sheet information and scant governance guidelines; no code. They hold their budget close to their vest. I've been waiting weeks for a copy.
Finally, Evergreen's website levy data report is flawed. One is lead to believe the average, 2009 assessed home in the District is $300K).
I hope some Readers and their friends will watch-over their governments by attending board meetings, "back-room" public meetings and viewing web-site videos; and especially writing Letters to local newspapers and sharing news with your neighbors.