News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The budget committee was to meet at city hall Wednesday, February 12, to explore ways of increasing the city's revenues. The city council must act by March 20 if new tax issues are to make it onto the May election ballot.
In recent months, the budget committee has considered: imposing a local prepared food and beverage tax or a general sales tax, increasing the transient room tax and raising business license fees. While committee members say they have not eliminated any options, several indicated that a sales or restaurant tax is not likely.
The committee will also consider asking for an increased tax base, which the Oregon legislature may allow, even under Measure 47's restrictions.
The Measure 47 tax rollback means the city will start out the 1997-98 fiscal year with an estimated tax revenue cut of $48,916, while the city continues to spend more than it takes in.
According to budget committee chairman Gary Miller, even if the city strips services to a minimum,Sisters faces a $24,453 shortfall. A more "realistic" budget shows a potential deficit of $159,422.
"Basically, the picture is not pretty," Miller said. "Measure 47 is just compounding the problem."
Two different budget scenarios have been mapped out by the heads of planning, public works and the police department. One scenario projects what department heads believe they can realistically manage. The second scenario projects radical cuts that Miller characterized as reducing the budget to "bare bones."
The city has budgeted for roof repairs for city hall and for the city-owned house next to the firehall, for new library paint and an additional septic tank at the Village Green to handle the load on busy days.
The public works department needs a new lawn mower and additional irrigation equipment and grass for the parks.
The police department hopes to start putting money aside for replacement of worn out vehicles.
If the city institutes the most radical cuts, all of those projects will be eliminated.
Under the "bare bones" scenario, the police department would cut two officers positions, leaving four on the force. Under the "realistic" budget scenario, the department would lose one officer -- leaving the position opened by Chris Bangs' departure unfilled. A temporary full-time officer is filling that slot through April.
Any new tax must be approved by Sisters voters, who defeated Measure 47 by one vote in November.
If the city does ask for an increased tax base, exercising what legislators call the "local option," Sisters voters can decide what they are willing to pay for their services.
City Administrator Barbara Warren thinks that is only fair.
"I think it should be up to the community to say if they want five police officers or four," Warren said. "They should be able to say what they want."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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