City of Sumner employees are taking voluntary pay cuts to help the city through a struggling economy.

Mayor Dave Enslow and City Administrator John Doan took a 2 percent pay decrease and others in the city’s police, public works, community development, and administration departments are taking cuts as well.

Sumner officials have been making efforts to make up for the loss of funds due to declining sales tax revenue. Sales tax, which accounts for about half of the city’s general fund budget, is 20 percent below budget.

The city of Sumner has been tracking the trends and accordingly started asking its employees to spend less, starting in February 2008, stated Carmen Palmer, Sumner’s communications director.

“We got ahead of this thing a bit,” Enslow said. “And, for that reason, we’re not hurting as badly as some neighbors. But, we’re still hurting.”

Cost-saving measures have been under way for some time in Sumner. A senior level position was eliminated in March, and numerous empty positions were left vacant. The city suspended some programs, such as the hanging basket program. Efficiencies were put in place, such as mailing the city newsletter four times a year instead of six.

“As leaders in the organization we chose to make this contribution to help the city,” Enslow said. “This was one more small thing we could do personally to help.”

In addition to continuing to be more efficient, the city is considering the creation of tax on its stormwater utility and implementing up to six furlough days for employees before the end of the year.

“Our vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city,” Doan said. “That hasn’t changed with the economy. The key to providing excellence is the talent of our employees, and they have been great in working together to make sure we make it through – all together.”

These voluntary pay cuts will save the city approximately $15,000.

Because this is in addition to the cost of living increase exchange and the furlough days, each of these employees have experienced between a 7.5 to 9.5 percent reduction in their salary.

Chaz Holmes can be reached at cholmes@courierherald.com or 360-802-8208.