vernonia’s
voice the city
june
2007
03
CityNews...
By Scott Laird
The city Budget Committee met during the month of
May and voted to recommend passage of the proposed
balanced budget of $5,070,196 for fiscal year 2007-
08, at its May 23 meeting. The Committee met one
more time on May 31 to certify the property tax rate
at 5.8163 per thousand of assessed value. The budget
will now go before the City Council on June 25 for
adoption.
The budget committee was made up of four Vernonia
citizens, Chair Scott Laird, Darlene McLeod, Cindy
Ball, and Bruce McNair, as well as all five members
of the City Council. Vice Chair Rebecca McGaugh
resigned her position during the May 23 meeting.
“Staff exercised frugality and restraint in formulating
this budget based on what we understood to be the ser-
vice priorities of the community,” stated City Adminis-
trator M. R. “Dick” Kline, who is also the City Finan-
cial officer. In his message to the budget committee
he said, “Vernonia faces a stiff financial challenge
working through the 2007-2008 budget process. It is
a challenge that will require the cooperation, support,
and teamwork of everyone engaging in this process.”
One main topic of discussion throughout the budget
process was the shortfall of funds from last year’s bud-
get. Mr. Kline addressed this issue at the start of the
May 31 meeting by presenting the committee with a
summary of expenditures and revenues over the last
four years for three separate projects. The Vernonia
Gateway Project showed a shortfall $3,709; the Com-
munity Learning Center showed a short-
fall of $108,796; and the ODOT Bike /
Pedestrian project showed a shortfall of
$327,424; for a total of $439,929. Once
the ODOT Bike/Pedestrian project is
closed the city expects to receive funds to-
taling $175,000 from ODOT, bringing the
final shortfall amount to $264, 929.
The shortfall will be made up this year
through inter-fund loans within the city,
which need to be paid back to the lending
fund within two years.
The committee also discussed the Chart of
Accounts that will be used to record finan-
cial transactions. Mr. Kline has suggested
changing the format for the Chart of Ac-
counts, making reporting easier, more ac-
curate and more transparent. Mr. Kline
stated in his message, “We are confident
that the new format will lead to a vast im-
provement in reporting, record keeping, and budgeting
in the future.” The committee approved changing the
Chart of Accounts.
The committee made few changes to the proposed bud-
get. Included in their recommendations were increases
to almost all parks fees, which were suggested by the
city parks committee, increasing Park revenues by
about $15,000. Fee increases that were recommended
included: the day use parking fee from $2 to $4; the
yearly day use pass from $20 to $25; the yearly day
use fee for seniors from $12 to $15; Anderson Park full
hook up camping fee from $16 to $20, and increases to
all other camping fees of $2, except for the primitive
camping at Vernonia Lake which was left unchanged.
One other point of discussion was the General Fund
Police budget. Chief Matthew Workman had requested
funding to replace two aging vehicles with new vehicle
leases, a move intended to reduce maintenance costs,
and increase fuel economy. The new vehicles would
have included new “Icops” camera technology, a de-
vice used to video record Police actions. The request
for the new vehicles was not included in the proposed
budget that was submitted to the committee. The com-
mittee voted 6-3 against purchasing and installing the
cameras, at an estimated cost of $12,000 each, in the
currently owned vehicles.
In Other City News:
At the city council meeting held on June 4, Council ap-
proved a resolution adopting a new Media Policy; ap-
proved a resolution declaring city property, specifically a
1986 Jeep Cherokee, as no longer needed for public use,
and authorized sale of that property; approved requests
for use of public property during the upcoming KUPL
Fishing event and Cycle Oregon visit. Mayor Sally Har-
rison appointed Mike Hartzell to the Airport Committee.
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