By Kevin Hanson
The Courier-Herald
As Enumclaw city leaders attempt to finalize an operating budget for next year, they're weighing a recommendation that two additional firefighters be brought on board and a half-time dispatcher's position be increased to full-time status.
While internal debate has not focused on the need for the additional staffing, city administration and members of the City Council apparently disagree on how the necessary funds should be generated. And, further, they seem to disagree on who should have the final word.
The recommendation from city administration (Mayor John Wise and Administrator Mark Bauer) is that the city impose a 1 percent hike in the property tax rate for 2005 while also shifting some money from the city's natural gas operation.
During budget discussions, however, members of the City Council favored a plan to ask city residents for the money, rather than simply implementing a tax increase. The council's idea is to put an item on the Feb. 1, 2005, ballot, asking voters to increase their local tax rate by 8.7 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If passed, that would result in a yearly tax increase of $17.40 for the owner of property (home and land) valued at $200,000.
The debate between administration and council was slated to continue during Monday night's regularly-scheduled council meeting. Whatever was decided, Bauer said, would be passed only on a first reading; that means the issue would be continued until the next council meeting, scheduled for Dec. 13.
The need for additional career firefighters came about as part of a recent overall review of the local department, which functions as a joint operation of the city of Enumclaw and King County Fire Protection District 28. The decision to support the addition of two full-time firefighters has been endorsed by the District 28 board of directors and Fire Chief Joe Kolisch.
Kolisch said the staff addition would increase the time when district headquarters was staffed by full-time, professional firefighters. Currently, only volunteers are on duty during night and weekend shifts.
As part of the funding proposal, it is being asked that a half-time dispatcher be increased to full-time status. Dispatchers handle calls for both the city police and fire departments. All shifts have to be staffed, so some employees are working overtime, Kolisch said, explaining a desire to see adequate staffing provided.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.
