Keizertimes., May 14, 2021, Page 5, Image 5

MAY 14, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
Odds and ends from the city's financial plan
C
hallenges and obstacles are the only
certainty when it comes to how a
city spends its money, but the budget
provides details regarding city plans for
how tax dollars are spent, the direction
the city is heading, and even how lit-
tle-known decisions in other spaces will
impact Keizer for years to come.
Keizer Finance Director Tim Wood
called the city’s Public Employee
Retirement System (PERS) “the black
eye I’m just waiting to take every two
years.” PERS is the pension plan for pub-
lic employees and is either under con-
stant political assault or in danger of not
being able to keep promises made.
Keizer contributes a certain amount
to the fund every year to help with
unfunded obligations but, every two
years, the amount is adjusted. Typically
it comes in the form of an increase.
Wood expects the city will be required
to pay an additional $410,000 into PERS
each year for the next two years.
“That will be a $269,000 hit to the gen-
eral fund or about 1.5 police officer sala-
ries and benefits,” Wood said. Funding
for police department staff is sourced
from the city’s general fund.
The city, for the time being, is plan-
ning to increase its police services fee
by $1. However, that increase would only
pay for the continued costs of the offi-
cers originally hired when the fee was
adopted.
In an earlier budget forecast, the
city planned to request a $2-per-month
increase, but Wood said savings in other
spaces allowed for the smaller request.
“It was a matter of timing, our original
projection was based on a smaller range
of data. We had some additional savings
that factored in that made a difference,”
Wood said.
Another fee the city collects pays
for maintenance and improvements at
Keizer Parks. It is expected to continue
at $4 per month. That fund made pos-
sible new playgrounds, sports courts
and other facilities and more consistent
schedules for maintenance activities
such as mowing.
In the next year, the fee is expected
to help pay for two new picnic shelters
at Keizer Rapids Park, ADA upgrades at
Bob Newton Park and lighting along a
pathway in Bair
Park. Plans to
irrigate and seed
a field at Keizer
Little
League
Park were on
the board but
the bids came
in higher than
expected. It may
or may not get
underway by the
end of the next
fiscal year.
Another line-
item in the bud-
On PEG fund changes impacting city
get suffered a
devastating cut
resulting
from
a 2008 deci-
sion by the Federal Communications changed the rules guiding PEG funds
Commission. The broadcast of public and said they could only be used for the
meetings on Keizer 23 has largely been purchase of broadcasting equipment, not
paid for through Public, Educational the associated services ( jobs) needed to
and Governmental (PEG) fees collected run a broadcast.
Cable television providers champi-
from cable franchise holders. Comcast/
oned the change while cities and states
Xfinity is the license holder for Keizer.
In 2008, the FCC board members challenged it in court, the providers
eventually won. As a result, Keizer’s
PEG fees will decrease from $135,000 to
$68,000.
“That means we will have to transi-
tion to something that takes less man-
power, and figure out what we want to
On April 11, a new
east to Silverton.
continue to broadcast and make adjust-
stake
presidency
Smith is an ments,” Wood said.
was called to serve
attorney at Smith
the Keizer stake of
Morgan, LLP, and
the Church of Jesus
lives in Keizer with
Christ of Latter-day
his wife Linae and
Saints. Langdon Smith
their four children.
(Keizer) was called to
Nathan Hurst is an
serve as stake pres-
insurance
broker
ident, with Nathan
for Leavitt Group in
Hurst (Hubbard) as 1st
Portland. He lives
counselor and Kendall
in Hubbard along
Pyper (Silverton) as
with his wife, Maile,
2nd counselor.
and their fourchil-
Langdon Smith
Nathan Hurst
Kendall Pyper
dren. Kendall Pyper
After nine years of
is a resident of
service as stake presi-
dent, Neil Nelson, of Keizer, was released, Keizer Stake (a group of congregations) Silverton. He is a general dentist and oper-
along with his counselors Jay Kemble serves members and communities from ates his own dental practice there. He and
(Salem), and Kirk Barclay (St. Paul). The State Street in Salem north to Hubbard and his wife, Lainie, have five children.
That means we will
have to transition to
something that takes less
manpower, and figure out
what we want to continue
to broadcast.
— TIM WOOD
Keizer church gets new leadership
sudoku answers pg A26
sudoku
brainfood
Enter digits 1-9 into blank spaces. Every row must contain
one of each digit. So must every column, & every 3x3 square.
maze by Jonathan Graf of Keizer