Council passes city budget after "tuneup and repairs"

By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The Seattle City Council yesterday finished the task of closing a $25 million gap in next year's budget, but not by cuts alone.

The council changed little of Mayor Greg Nickels' 2005 proposed budget, except by adding almost $6 million in spending, with most of that going to streets and bridges, libraries and social services. The council would finance most of its additions through a 1.5 percent increase in garbage, water, sewer and drainage charges. The increase would cost the average homeowner about $16 more a year.

It also would raise fees on an array of services ranging from animal neutering to fireworks permits to building permits.

"We did a tuneup on this budget and some repairs," said Councilman Peter Steinbrueck, stressing that the council's added spending "mirrors the compassion of this community."

Overall, the council used cuts to bridge about 50 percent of the budget gap between projected revenues and the cost of maintaining existing services. It relied on increased fees and utility taxes and adjusted forecasts to cover the rest.

There were few surprises as the council took 69 votes yesterday in formally approving the $685 million budget — a $19 million increase over this year's. The council restored services targeted in cuts by Nickels that had raised the most protest from citizens, such as the bookmobile and a late-night recreation program. It also rejected some of the mayor's ideas such as parking fees at some parks.

Longing for the days when they could increase property taxes by 6 percent a year — before voters in 2001 approved statewide Initiative 747, which limits cities to 1 percent annual increases — council members blamed Tim Eyman and the federal government for their roles in making less money available.

Many council members praised Nickels for working more cooperatively with them than in previous years. But Councilman Jim Compton also pointed out sharp differences with the mayor's spending plan, mentioning transportation, parks and libraries and the fact that the council had to come up with $1 million more for police- and fire-pension costs mandated by the state after Nickels submitted his budget in September.

In a brief statement, Nickels said he would ask the council to "place particular emphasis on public safety" next year, suggesting one of the council's missed political opportunities.

While the council increased the library's budget by almost 11 percent over this year and helped pay down the debt at McCaw Hall, it added little to spending for the police and fire departments, except $94,000 to restore a position in the Office of Professional Accountability, which investigates complaints of police misconduct.
 
"We maintained police and fire forces, the bookmobile and human services. A lot of cities can't make those claims," said Councilman Nick Licata.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com