Tacoma City Council members restored funding to a number of key programs and avoided imposing new taxes on the citys businesses and nonprofit hospitals tonight while approving a $356 million General Fund budget for the 2005-2006 biennium on an 8-1 vote.
The Citys General Fund is the fund that pays for police and fire services as well as economic development, human services and a number of other City services. The total City budget approved by the council is $2.1 billion, including all funds.
The councils budget restores funding for 2005 for the Tacoma Police Departments Community Liaison Officer program with $895,000, and it restores funding for the Tacoma Fire Departments Fire Station 13 through 2005 with $1.1 million. The council also included a statement of its intent to fully fund police and fire services in 2006 through efficiency savings or additional funding options.
The budget closes a $29.6 million gap in the Citys General Fund portion of the government through a compromise that sees both increases in fee revenues and restores funding for some services from the levels initially proposed in City Manager Jim Waltons budget on Oct. 23.
The council approved $750,000 in management reductions to be determined by the City Managers Breakthrough Change initiative in 2005. The budget also removes cost-of-living pay increases and freezes longevity pay rates for non-union City employees in 2006.
The council made a number of other amendments to restore funding for economic development and human services, and to add funding for programs related to domestic violence. The City will fund anti-domestic violence programs, including its portion of a new Family Support Center for domestic violence victims, restoration of funding for a lead attorney assigned to domestic violence cases and other legal support.
The Tacoma Economic Development Department (TEDD) received funding for a new private investment initiative as well as restorations for arts grants through the Tacoma Arts Commission, and the neighborhood councils. TEDD also received additional funds for work on growth management issues. The business community also got a nod when the council opted to leave a proposed two percent increase in the business-and-occupation tax on city businesses off the table in the final budget.
Human services funding was restored for service contracts and funds that allow the city to help programs such as Safe Streets, senior transportation and the McKinley Family Support Center.
City Council members made a commitment that early in 2005 they will instruct the City Manager to begin implementing his Breakthrough Change proposals in an effort to make the Citys government more efficient through changes in organizational restructuring, risk management, employee compensation and benefits, and vehicles and equipment policies.
The $356 million General Fund budget for 2005-2006 is approximately $2 million or slightly over one-half of one percent more than the General Fund budget for the 2003-2004 biennium.
