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Budget survey advocates service cuts and new taxes
9/8/2010 9:13:59 AM
Splash Editor
Survey participants told the city of Liberty Lake to continue cutting back services and also to consider new taxes to preserve the community's identity.
The city recently asked citizens for feedback in addressing budget woes in 2011, with an estimated $700,000 shortfall expected.
In a survey on the city's website, nearly 150 participants responded to a variety of questions regarding trimming services and implementing new taxes. The participation represents more than 5 percent of the city's households, city officials said.
Of the 150 responses, nearly one-third said to eliminate services and to avoid increasing taxes.
"Seek outside assistance in finding efficiencies," a participant wrote. "Eliminate waste and inefficient actions first. I'm strongly against the tax increases. Households have trimmed expenses, so must the city."
About two-thirds of respondents said they would support some sort of tax increase, with answers divided between a utility tax, forming a transportation benefit district to charge a car tab fee or sales tax, forming a municipal parks district or a combination of those taxing options.
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Most of those respondents said to keep taxes as low as possible and to also consider cutting services in addition.
"I would hate to see the City eliminate services that contribute to what makes Liberty Lake special; this may seem like a good solution in the short term but, in the long run, may cost the City far more than just a dollar amount," a survey respondent wrote.
The survey also asked participants to rank service priorities. Respondents said the top priority is law enforcement, followed by street and trail maintenance, planning and building services, parks and recreation, the city library and Trailhead Golf Course.
If the city must reduce levels of service, 50 percent of respondents said to target the city-owned Trailhead Golf Course first.
"City services shouldn't be in the golf business," a survey respondent wrote.
All survey results are available online on the city's website at www.libertylakewa.gov.