Shoreline City Manager's proposed 2012 budget funds priority sidewalks, Healthy City initiative

From the City of Shoreline Communications Program

At the Shoreline City Council’s October 17 meeting, City Manager Julie Underwood presented the 2012 proposed budget, which is balanced in all funds and totals $54.7 million. This is a 35% decrease from the 2011 budget, primarily a result of the large decrease in the City’s capital expenditures related to construction of the second mile of Aurora.

The City’s proposed 2012 operations budget totals $36.3 million, which is a 1% decrease from the 2011 budget. The capital budget is $9.4 million.

In spite of the financial challenges of the Great Recession, the City has maintained a positive and stable financial condition. The recession has reduced the City’s sales tax collections by nearly 13% and development revenue by 61% since the peak in 2007-2008. The passage of Proposition 1 in 2010, a six-year increase in the City’s property tax levy, provides resources to maintain basic services to the community, but does not provide resources to expand or deliver new services.

The fundamental purpose of the City’s budget is to allocate resources that support the community’s vision and priorities. To better achieve the Council’s goals and the community’s priorities and given the City’s finite resources, it was necessary to reallocate resources within the current budget from existing programs. To do this, the City eliminated six full-time equivalent (FTE) positions from existing programs.

The most significant proposals included in the 2012 Proposed Budget include:

• $500,000 for priority sidewalk construction.
• Funding for a community P-Patch, Shoreline Farmer’s Market, and community events to further the Council’s Healthy City initiative.
• Additional resources to support the City’s economic development efforts including real estate services and special event support.
• Creation of a City Engineer position (prior to 2006 the City had a City Engineer position) to coordinate the development review process for all new development and City capital construction processes.
• Enhancements within the City’s surface water utility to meet new federal permit requirements and the development of an asset management system.
• Funding to enhance animal control services for the Shoreline community.

“I am very proud to present a balanced 2012 budget to the City Council that provides funding to further the Council’s goals and community’s priorities. To continue to find ways to address the community’s other growing needs, the City is committed to focusing on efficiencies, partnerships that leverage tax dollars, and hearing from our residents,” says City Manager Julie Underwood.

The budget adoption process includes three public meetings: November 7, 14, and 21, with final adoption scheduled for November 28. A public hearing on the proposed revenue sources and property tax levy is scheduled for November 14 with a second budget public hearing on November 21. All meetings start at 7:00 pm and take place at City Hall. The City Council encourages the community to provide input.

For more information about Shoreline’s budget, visit the City webpage.