Public weighs in on budget

May 14, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Valley residents gathered into the training room at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building Station in Wasilla Thursday to take advantage of the first public-comment session before the Mat-Su Borough Assembly on its proposed $262 million budget. The testimony generated more questions for assembly members to consider.

Does the borough need some new employees? Is there a need for two new ambulances at the Central Mat-Su Station? What is with the 52 percent increase in governmental recovery expenses for the Wasilla Lakes Fire Service Area?

And then there's the school budget.

&#8220We keep hearing that the school district needs all this money to meet the pending shortfall, but where were they?” Assembly member Jim Colver asked after the meeting. &#8220Usually when the school budget is tight, the rank-and-file from the district fills the room. But they weren't here. That alone raises several questions.”

The school budget was one of the main topics during the meeting, but few supported adding the $2 million extra requested to district's operating budget. Members of the Classified Employees Association dominated the public input, asking the assembly to intervene on their behalf.

Carl Norman, the first to speak, showed a signed agreement between the school district and the CEA that is good until 2010.

&#8220Why don't they (the school district) have to keep their word and honor this agreement?” Norman asked. &#8220From where I sit, the problem is not a lack of money, but the inability to manage the money.”

Norman went on to suggest that the school district take a portion of the $3.4 million from recently approved legislation in Juneau to reinstate the more than 200 employees facing layoffs.

&#8220The school board says they expect to save $1.5 million by eliminating the CEA workers,” Norman said. &#8220Put them back to work and the school district still have $1.9 million left over.”

Discussion of the schools budget also raised concerns from Colver.

&#8220One day, they are a million short, the next day four and then three,” Colver said. &#8220I am just not sure what the real numbers are. It's a moving target, making it hard to have a serious discussion about. We need to know where the money is being spent.”

Ken Slausen, chairman of the Wasilla Lakes Fire Service Board, was surprised to find governmental recovery expenses in the budget increased nearly $98,000 more than expected.

&#8220We put together our budget back in December, and figured it would cost $204,000 for the telecom and administration fees,” Slausen said.

&#8220But when I looked over the budget, I saw it was up 52 percent and would be $302,000. That's a big jump.”

Wasilla Lakes was not the only fire service area to go up. Sutton saw a 41 percent jump, Talkeetna is up 11 percent, and Big Lake went up 35 percent.

&#8220I would understand an increase,” Slausen said. &#8220But when there is an increase like that, it makes you wonder why.”

Members of the Mat-Su Borough Employees Association, wearing bright green shirts, pleaded for the assembly to add six new employees to borough staff, and Wasilla resident Michelle Church agreed.

&#8220The budget says that there is one borough employee for every 304 residents,” Church said.

&#8220That borders on negligence and irresponsibility.”

Nancy Herford, president of the Mat-Su Borough Employees Association, looked at the new positions as a way to maintain the current level of service in the face of rapid population growth.

&#8220We're stretched thin,” Herford said. &#8220The new position will allow the rubber band to contract a little bit. Without them, the quality of services provided will be hurt.”

The new positions proposed in the budget include an accounting assistant in the finance department specifically for accounts payable, a planner to assist in the management of the current planning activities, a full-time emergency medical service coordinator for the Central Mat-Su ambulance service, and a 10-month permanent outdoor recreation technician for the parks division to serve the northern area of the borough.

The proposed budget also would combine two permanent part-time positions at the Wasilla pool into one full-time position.

&#8220For the most part, the new positions come from combining temporary and part-time positions,” Herford said. &#8220Most of them result in a savings for each department.”

Paramedics with the Central Mat-Su ambulance took advantage of the meeting's location next to their station to push for the addition of two new ambulances.

&#8220We're the second-busiest ambulance station in the state,” paramedic Ginny Gee said. &#8220Last year we responded to 3,052 medical calls, and put over 70,000 miles on our primary ambulance.”

Other medics shared how a new four-wheel-drive vehicle with air suspension would be safer for medics and those receiving treatment.

&#8220Another benefit of having new rigs would be the extension to the life and usefulness of our current rigs,” Daniel Sides said. &#8220Right now, an ambulance is on a five-year cycle, which could be pushed out to seven or eight years with two more rigs.”

The public will have another opportunity to address the assembly regarding the budget Thursday at 6 p.m. at the public safety building.

The assembly is set to make amendments during a May 23 special meeting.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.