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V ern on ia, O R 9 7 0 6 4
Newspaper R o o m -O N P
UO Library System - CPS
1299 University Of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299
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Voi. 18, No. 120
‘Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley’
October 16, 2003
Council starts work
on Town Hall ideas
Amount of school funding still uncertain
Vernonia school board start
ed the new school year with the
same overriding consideration
that ended the old year - un
certainty about state financial
support.
Superintendent Mike Fun-
derburg reminded the board,
during their September meet
ing, that this year’s budget was
based on a state school fund
appropriation of $4.8 billion, re
sulting in serious reductions in
every area of the budget. Be
cause school funding is unsta
ble, the local budget committee
developed priorities for “add-
backs,” if the appropriation in
creased. According to Funder-
burg, the legislature agreed
upon a minimum of $5.05 bil
lion, then, with a three-year in
come tax surcharge, raised the
total to $5.2 billion. That addi
tional amount is now in jeop
ardy because of an initiative
going to voters in January that
would repeal the surcharge.
Funderburg explained that
the legislation guarantees there
will be no reductions to the
state school fund this year, re
gardless of the outcome of the
initiative. Any adjustments
needed will be made in the
2004-2005 school year. If the
initiative passes, Vernonia will
lose up to $400,000, resulting
in even deeper cuts than were
experienced last school year.
Legislative adjustments to
PERS also affect the local
budget, but the result is uncer
tain because of legal chal
lenges. In order to protect the
district from incurring a large
debt, the disputed amount has
been added to contingency,
Funderburg explained. Any ad
ditional funds received, should
the state school fund exceed
$5.05 billion, will be held in the
Unappropriated Ending Fund,
which cannot be used during
this budget year. Funderburg
stressed the necessity of pro
tecting the district from the kind
of painful mid-year adjustments
that had to be made last year.
Funderburg presented a list
of add-backs that closely par-
alled the priorities developed
by the Budget Assistance Team
(BAT) in the spring and were
recently reviewed by members
of BAT. Two teaching positions,
in special education and in mid
dle school, have already been
addressed by internal adjust
ments in the budget and staff,
putting textbook adoption at the
top of the list. Funderburg told
the board that this was in
creased to $10,000, twice the
projected add-back, due to un
expected needs for books at
Mist. Following the priorities es-
P lease see page 9
Vernonia City Council, at
their Oct. 6 meeting, reviewed
the recommendations on law
enforcement that were devel
oped by citizens during the
September 22 Town Hall meet
ing.
Police Chief Mike Cahill said
the recommendations were not
in conflict with existing goals for
the department, falling primarily
into areas of communications
and funding.
Council discussed potential
ways to increase communica
tions from the department to
citizens, and from citizens to
the department. Ideas included
developing a way for citizens to
ask questions or make com
ments - with or without identify
ing themselves - followed by
responses to their questions or
comments. When that process
is agreed upon, The INDEPEN
DENT will publish the informa
tion.
Council agreed to a four-
year lease-purchase contract
with for a new police car. The
first year’s payment will be paid
by the insurance replacement
for the car wrecked in July. The
remainder of the contract would
require that a little less than
$6,000 per year be included in
the budget. Chief Cahill said he
would rather have good cars
than a car for each officer.
The Vernonia Grange is ask-
Resignation creates
School Board need
The resignation of Ver
nonia School District Director
Leslie O’Leary has created a
vacancy on the school board
which the board would like to
fill as soon as possible.
Those interested in serving
in this volunteer position may
pick up applications at the
district office.
O ’Leary, an accountant,
resigned for personal rea
sons.
ing for a temporary hardship re
duction in their w ater rates
while they reorganize and try to
revitalize the organization. The
city attorney was instructed to
draft an agreement for review
at the next council meeting.
Council adopted a modifica
tion to the water curtailment or
dinance that will allow moving
from level to level as the water
flow changes in Rock Creek.
This will allow staff to initiate or
end curtailm ent as needed
without Council approval at
each change.
Public Works Director Robyn
Bassett reported a complaint
about the city selling water to
area residents whose wells
have gone dry, when water cur
tailment is in effect. The rate to
non-residents is $2.50 per
1,000 gallons; City residents
pay $1.25/1,000 plus property
taxes. Council expressed con
cern about health issues if peo
ple need water, but requested
Bassett to review the outside
rate.
In other business, council
• Accepted
the
Smart
Growth Ordinance, but will re
visit it at the Oct. 20 meeting.
• Approved, with one absten
tion, the Lyon’s Den application
to OLCC for a full liquor license;
• Accepted a small piece of
property for a sidewalk and
road on Lakeview Drive, but will
not be responsible until the
road is completed to City stan
dards.
• Set a Town Hall meeting on
Economic Development, Nov.
17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council
Chamber at city hall.
Ichneumon??
Xenophile??
Vernonia
women
take honors in AARP
National Spelling Bee.
See story on page 17.