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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2003)
Voi. 18, No. 9 Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley' For the Community.. 7. ;.'" • ' 'if No info yet on advertising police cars Vernonia Police Chief Mike Cahill and City Administrator Mike Sykes, at the April 21 city council meeting, reported find ing very little about the program to fund police cars with sponsor advertising on the cars. The program was presented Local Budgets 101 Because a lot of current news, locally, countywide, statewide or federal is about budgets, The Independent has prepared a sort of Basic Budget outline for local gov ernments, which includes cities, school and fire dis tricts, and counties. Those who are interested will find it on page 21. Those who are not interested, may easily ignore it. to the council previously, with the explanation that the cars are paid for by a company that sells advertising rights on the cars. The lack of information about results of the program is because nobody in Oregon, in fact, in the U.S., according to Chief Cahill, has one of the cars yet. Phoenix, Oregon, signed with the company in No vember, but there is no car yet. Director of Public Works Robyn Basset reported that the sidewalk and bike lane project has been approved, though a firm date has not been set. The project is to install pedestrian and bicycle improvements, ie., sidewalks and bike lanes, on East Bridge Street from Texas Avenue to the green bridge. The $453,000 project will cost the city approximately $46,500 in cash, plus whatever work the city contributes. Council approved changes in the fee schedule for the li brary meeting room. The changes will allow non-profit or ganizations to either pay a flat fee of $10.00 for each use, or commit to an amount of volun teer work for the library that would be equal to the $10 fee. Dan Titus asked Council for permission to establish a busi ness, initially using a temporary building. Mr. Titus plans to start an equipment rental business at Bridge Street and Rose Av enue. The property is surround ed with a cyclone fence, but doesn’t have a building. The council approved the request with conditions. May 1, 2003 Big cuts for 47J; full year remains so far ‘The current loss of state revenue is devastating to the After delivering the budget infrastructure of Oregon and message, Funderburg re destroying K-12 education,” viewed the district’s motto, vi said Vernonia School District sion statement, and guiding Superintendent Mike Funder- principles. (Copies available in burg, at the April 24 budget the district office.) He then gave committee meeting, adding that a detailed presentation of the the state school fund has been work of the Budget Assistance reduced by over a half billion Team (BAT), which used these ($501.9 million) dollars since philosophical statements of schools adopted their budgets purpose to develop budget for the present fiscal year goals for the 2003-2005 bienni (2002-2003). um. Budget goals establish a Budget adjustments in Ver framework within which budget nonia have included absorbing decisions can be made that positions reduced by attrition, support the underlying philoso reduction in force, elimination phy of education in the district. of six school days, reduced Goals set by BAT are: program offerings, and freezing • The district will provide the all non-required expenditures. necessary instructional re Funderburg told the committee sources to ensure student suc that the district is still in the cess. Instructional resources process of completing the include adequate numbers of budget for the current year current state-adopted text while, at the same time, build books and updated technology ing a budget for 2003-2004. to compete in a global society. As he presented the budget • The district will maintain message to a well-attended safe and healthy physical facili budget committee meeting ties that provide an environ April 24, Funderberg left no ment for a quality learning ex doubt that the budget process perience. for the 2003-04 fiscal year • The district will offer profes would be both grim and difficult. sional development opportuni The budget adopted last ties for all employees. Through spring, for the current fiscal training, the staff will be expect year, was $5,194,730. Based ed to lead students to higher on latest state projections, Fun levels of achievement. derburg told the committee that Declining enrollment they must develop a budget at Funderburg also presented $4,610,006, reflecting both loss the committee with current en of state revenue and declining rollment figures. Enrollment has enrollment. “The task before dropped in Vernonia since 1996 this committee is monumental,” when the district had 842 stu Funderburg emphasized. dents. Many factors contribute The Vernonia School District to decreased enrollment, includ Budget Committee is composed ing the graduation of the chil of the seven school board mem dren from the “mini-baby boom” bers plus seven community (children whose parents were members appointed by the Baby Boomers), and increased board. A Budget Assistance enrollment in home and private Team composed of staff, three school settings. Current district board members and three com enrollment is 698 students, in munity budget committee mem bers has been working with pre cluding special education stu liminary figures for several dents, some of whom are served weeks.) Please see page 14
