1976 12 01L
2466
CITY OF MOSES LAKE
MOSES LAKE,WASHINGTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING - SPECIAL SESSION December 1, 1976
CITY HALL -COUNCIL ROOM 8 P.M.
Members Present: Eric Skaug, Jim Barney, Kent Jones, Bill Moe, Norm Johnson, Bob
Hill, and Don Swanson.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Don Swanson at 8 p.m./D/O
Mr. Swanson opened the Public Hearing on the 1977 Budget.
Mr.Waggener went over the revised letter of transmittal for the Council and public.
Steve Shinn, 426 Crestview,wanted to know how many people had been added to the
Finance Department since 1974 and what the miscellaneous funds were for.
Mr. Waggener stated that the miscellaneous funds were a reserve item that could
be used by the different departments in case of need. This contingency fund was
set up so that each department would not have to have a contingency fund of its
own. He stated that he did not know how much the personnel had increased since
1974 but he believed that most of the increase in cost was due to inflation and
increases in salary rather than increased personnel. He stated that there were
two more employees budgeted in the Finance Department for 1977 than for 1976.
Mr. Shinn asked if the increased costs in the Community Development Department was
due to an increase in personnel. Mr.Waggener stated that it was.
Mr.Shinn stated that he was not in favor of an "across the board"percent increase
as those in the higher salary ranges received a much bigger increase than those in
the lower salary ranges. He felt the Council should look at this area more closely
and that the people in the lower brackets should get a bigger increase.
Mr.Swanson stated that this would be reviewed further by the Council.
Mr. Skaug moved that the Public Hearing be closed,seconded by Mr. Hill, and passed
unanimously.
Mr.Jones stated that he would like to see the majority of the $283,000 in the
contingency fund go into streets in one way or another.
Mr.Skaug stated that by leaving it in the contingency fund that it was being committed
nowhere but he felt the police facility should be considered before the contingency
is allocated anywhere.
Mr. Hill stated that he would like to see it go for streets.
Mr. Swanson stated that it was the general feeling of the Council that the improvement
of the streets in Moses Lake was a high priority item and that the Police facility
should be kept to the $600,000 figure.
Mr.Moe stated that he felt that if the police facility required more than the $600,000
to make it a good project,more money should be expended for it and the contingency
fund should not be kept just for street improvement.
Mr.Swanson stated that it was the Council's feeling that the $600,000 should be
looked at first and foremost and that the streets were the first priority set by
the Council but that nothing was being committed at this time.
Mr.Johnson stated that he felt nothing was committed but that the street improvement
was the spot to look at.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
R. C.Bierma,City Clerk