Wasilla trims budget by almost 6 percent

WASILLA — On Monday, the city council got its first look at the proposed operating and capital budgets for 2010 then passes a number of ordinances.

The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2010 is $21,669,919, a 5.9 percent cut compared to the amended 2009 budget.

Without a property tax, the city is run on two cents from the sales tax, said Mayor Verne Rupright, the other half-cent goes to road bonds. Yet the budget has grown 6 to 10 percent per year for the last six years, he said. One of his campaign promises was to cut the budget by at least 3 percent in his first year as mayor.

“We have six months of operating capital in our hedge fund. I would like to get that up to a year’s worth of money,” Rupright said. “Speaking as a former G.I., its always good to carry an extra canteen.”

To get the 5.9 percent cut, Rupright asked his department heads to cut 3 to 5 percent from their operating budgets. To do this, he said, each department had to focus on its needs rather than its wants.

“For example, at the sports complex, it’s extremely expensive to run power there, so we converted over to timer switches to shut the lights off at night,” he said. “It’s like the old saying, if you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.”

Even with the state budget largely ignoring the Valley, Wasilla still has funding for their existing projects, Rupright said.

“We didn’t pick up what we were lobbying for, but we have enough in the pipeline as it is to keep things moving.”

Before the budget gets passed, there will be two public meetings on April 20 and 22. The city council will vote on the budget at their regular meeting on April 27.

After the budget meeting on Monday, the council voted on nine ordinances. Below are the outcomes of some of the more notable items on the agenda.

The council

• Voted to approve the ordinance allowing the sale of liquor on Election Day, overturning an antiquated law.

• Passed a resolution to allow outdoor firing ranges inside city limits.

• Voted to overturn building height limits in commercial and industrial zoning districts. Buildings were only allowed up to three stories, now they can go up to eight.

• Approved the ordinance to change the appeals process. Now, planning commission recommendations are not subject to appeal, there is more time to file appeals, and appellants can be reimbursed their costs if their appeal is successful.