AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The city of Airway Heights is facing a $1.5 million budget gap due to losses in local government revenues, and city government leaders would like the public’s help in making tough decisions on where to make cuts.
City manager Albert Tripp and department managers were asked to present recommended reductions to city council at council’s study session July 13.
A 2020 mid-year budget adjustment was discussed, which the public can access at cawh.abalancingact.com. The budget is interactable, and the city is asking the public for feedback on where they feel cuts could be made and where they shouldn’t using the website.
The city is projected to bring in $9,426,967 in total revenue this year, but could spend $9,981,791 according to the mid-year budget adjustment. However, that spending total is flexible and is an area the city would like public feedback on through the website.
The spending includes public safety (judicial, law enforcement and fire services), executive services (legislative, executive, legal and civil services), parks and recreation, public works, administrative services and reserve funding.
Airway Heights Police Department chief Brad Richmond said he hopes costs can be cut in public safety by working with the FBI to provide vehicles for detectives. He also said there’s about $300,000 in impact mitigation fees potentially available from the Spokane Tribe, which has a committee expected to meet this month for a disbursement of funds. Richmond said he hopes that the department will receive those funds.
Tripp proposed cuts in the executive services. He said the city had set aside roughly $20,000 for their Strategic Planning Order, but that hasn’t been spent and Tripp doesn’t expect it to be utilized. There could also smaller cuts to training and travel. Tripp’s presentation detailed about $50,000 in cuts.
Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director J.C. Kennedy’s major proposed cuts came in utilities due to the splash pad not being activated. The other cuts were in staffing…normally, according to Kennedy, there are two full-time employees and four part-time employees in Parks. Currently, there are just two staff members total. There will also be major cuts to recreation employees and building utilities.
Public works director Kevin Anderson said his department already moved building inspector responsibilities to one inspector and moving the other inspector to the water department, which brought savings. Anderson proposed cuts to the street fund as well.
The administrative department is expected to save money through the likely retirement of its utility clerk next year and to cut the position of the payroll clerk.
Currently, there is $400,000 set aside in reserve funding.
Mayor Kevin Richey noted that the $1.5 million deficit includes the assumption that mitigation funds won’t be paid by the Kalispell Tribe this year. If they happen to be paid, the deficit would be reduced to $700,000.
Tripp also discussed with council a professional service agreement with R3INW LLC to “implement COVID-19 business recovery strategies,” according to meeting agenda documentation. The city would pay R3INW no more than $27,000 over a three-month period to assist local businesses with childcare, workforce development and supply/demand needs. The city would use CARES funding for this item, which will be voted on by council at its July 20 meeting.
The West Plains Chamber of Commerce requested the city award them CARES funding totaling $5,102.15 “to help offset unanticipated expenses of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” as brought to council’s attention by Tripp. That will also be approved or disapproved July 20.
Anderson led a discussion of the water system plan update task order, as the Department of Health has ordered the city to update that plan.
Tripp asked the city council, as first presented July 6, to consider declaring a financial emergency due to the $1.5 million budget shortfall. That will be approved or disapproved July 20.
He also requested that council “authorize a one-time amendment to the sewer service area” south of McFarlane Road, which currently isn’t served by public sewer from Airway Heights. Spokane has an adjacent sewer main that can serve those properties, and the two cities are seeking to “amend the sewer service area to provide sewer service to property located in Airway Heights,” according to Tripp’s agenda item documentation.
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
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