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Ocean Shores, the first half
After a little vacation, I’ll be back tomorrow for the RIG (Readers Input Group) “See Party” finale, 10 a.m. at the Library. We’ve been trying to “see” if there are alternative ways to fund the Library. Related reading material: The City’s first-half numbers, just out: os first half 2010
Good News: Licenses & Permits are at 70% of the budget, on pace to far exceed the conservative $295,000. Convention Center rentals are at $55,000, 61% of the projected $90,000. Self Insurance payments $84,000, 37% of the annual budget of $226,000. Departments that have spent less than 50% of their budget include: Engineering, Legal Service, Municipal Court.
Not-S0-Good News: Legislative (69.3 %), City Hall (64.3% ), Fire Dept. (64%) and Police (56.7 %) all way over 50% of their budgets, at the half-way point. Ocean Shores has spent nearly $2.6 million, or 58.3% of the General Fund’s budgeted $4.4 million.
The Library has spent $127,907, far over its originally budgeted $10,000. (Note: that budget has since changed, but is not reflected in the first half numbers put out by the City.) The Interpretive Center has also significantly overspent its original budget, but has been allotted more by City Council
Emergency Care is way behind its projected revenue, with ambulance billing at $156,000, only 18% or the annual goal of $869,000. (The “ambulance utility” went into effect in July, and therefore has not produced any first-half revenue for Emergency Care.)
Thanks Lorraine T for reading the comments that I and others put in on this subject. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to continue to have a library in Ocean Shores and we thought it was a plus when we first moved here, however, it is still a city owned library and has to be currently funded by the city with tax payer money.
And it is the city, through mismanagement of their budgets and tranferrence of funds in their accounts over the years plus a miriad of other city funded issues that have decreased the ability for the city to continue its “support for the need” of the library. If reaching into the taxpaying voters pockets everytime a core group of people want/feels they need something,then soon there won’t be anyone left to pay for it! In these economic times, the library/interpretive center might best serve the city by closing until the funds to support it are there.
With a road LID, EMS Levy, Water Treatment construction, and who knows what other studies and commitments are out there hanging over our heads, fixed income people are just a bit taped out right now.
Don’t know if you’ll read this now, it’s been so long since your post, but in response to your question…I did. I also lived in between Lake Quinault and Humptulips between 59 – 63, when we only had the book mobile at the school in Lake Quinault, moved from there to West Seattle, we are talking major culture shock, for one year and had a magnificent public library. Then on to Port Townsend for my remaining school years with a wonderful public library! Port Townsend in those days, 60’s and 70’s, had about the same population as does Ocean Shores now. People just knew the value of a public library and supported it. I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but I question the use of tax dollars…when we all tighten our budgets, what do we cut from? Of course, simple answer would be luxuries, but then when it gets to the nitty gritty we all cut a little bit from everything. I’m sorry, but I for one, do not consider a Public Library a luxury.
Again, just for thought – How many folks living in Ocean Shores now today actually grew up in a town with our population (full time residents) that had its own library paid for by the town?
People chose to live hear for a great number of positive reasons but not just because we have a library/interpretive center(Seems these two are connected) “Back in the day” We had to go into the county seat to the library or use the book mobile once a month.
If the city could afford it in the past but can no longer afford it for reasons we all already know, then, Im sorry. For those of you who so desperately want/need a library, you,ll need to pack yourself and the kids into your fuel efficient car, as my parents did and go into town. O Shores needs to realize it just can’t have everything it wants all the time on the backs of the taxpayer property owners.
Wish I had a vote darn it!
Guess that evens out our yes ballots! I’m thinking this is going to be a close one!
Hmmm…over budget. My husband and I have tightened out belts.
We are at 35 percent of our yearly budget at the halfway mark.
We will be voting NO on the library issue…in fact, we already have. Ballots were mailed yesterday.