Wasilla City Council cuts nearly $279,000 from 2009 budget

Derek Casanovas/Frontiersman

This article contains corrected information amended on 6-12-08.

After a long night at Wasilla City Hall, council member Dianne Woodruff said the Wasilla City Council cut $278,989 from its 2009 fiscal budget, leaving the total city budget for the year at around $30 million.

However, the council did do some addition by subtraction, adding two new staff slots. A public works supervisor and a human resources administrative assistant position at $70,000-plus apiece were both added to the 2009 fiscal budget. The city opted for the human resources assistant instead of a higher paying human resources generalist. A potential city clerk position, which would have been added for the 2010 fiscal year, did not get the go ahead from the council.

After an accidental omission from the council’s draft budget, a $15,000 annual contribution to the streetlight near Herman Road was approved. Woodruff said the city and Lowe’s Home Improvement have seven years remaining on an agreement made to split the overall cost of the light.

Woodruff said two other amendments to tidy up and reduce accounting costs for the city were also approved.

However, $300,000 set aside for an intermodal facility at the Wasilla Airport was sliced from the budget. Woodruff said the money would have created a depot to centralize cars, trains and planes in one location. But after Gov. Sarah Palin cut state money intended for the building, the city axed funds from its coffers as well.

A discussion regarding a possible animal shelter in Houston was postponed until the council’s next meeting on June 23. Woodruff said the city was considering an action memorandum for a $60,000 contract for the shelter.