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MISSING BOY | A look at the troubled past of missing Redmond toddler Sky Metalwala’s parents [ 17 ]
Traffic | Fuel tanker spills 3,500 gallons on northbound I-405 in Bellevue FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 [ 2 ]
Sports | Bellevue goes for another state football title tonight in clash with unbeaten O’Dea [ 11 ]
Jobs on the line as Bellevue faces deficit Bellevue councilmembers are examining a number of ways to resolve a $6.5 million budget deficit. The council Monday reviewed a lengthy list of spending cuts totaling $4.6 million, including the elimination of 17 full-time equivalent positions, six of which would involve layoffs, voluntary separations or voluntary retirements. The proposed reductions come on top of those made last year when the city reduced its workforce by 49 positions and cut $16 million from the budget. The council is expected to decide in the coming weeks on spending cuts and possible fee increases as part of mid-biennium budget update, which includes the 2011-2012 general fund budget, passed in December 2010. Budget writers say they have designed the cuts to minimize direct impacts to the public. In addition to reductions, the council is considering whether to implement an emergency medical services fee for transporting “basic life support” patients to hospitals. The recommendation is for a
transport fee of $600, plus $14 per mile, for patients with less serious ailments, comparable to other cities and fire departments in King County. The new fees would generate an estimated $1 million in additional revenue annually for the city’s general fund, but councilmembers have raised several questions about the proposal and have expressed concern about possible impacts. Also being considered are increases in fees charged by the city’s Development Services Department, which has been hit hard by the recession. In response, 26 positions were eliminated last year and 15 more will be cut in 2012. Development Services depends primarily on user fees, not the general fund, to pay for its operations, and the fee increases would help pay for its core services. If approved, it would be the first fee adjustment since 2009. Councilmembers are scheduled to take action at the Dec. 5 or Dec. 12 meeting, when they vote on several ordinances related to the budget, including a 2012 property tax amount, the Development Services fees, basic life support transport fees, and the mid-biennium budget.
Eastgate annexation blitz Saturday
Snowflakes shine bright along the Bellevue Square Mall a few days after the official opening of Snowflake Lane. The Bellevue tradition dazzles children nightly with live drummers, colorful costumes and enough fake snow to inspire young and old to wish for a white Christmas. Downtown shops are officially decked-out for the holiday shopping season after a busy Black Friday, but all the Christmas cheer didn’t stop the skies from turning blue and a few umbrellas from popping up along sidewalks this week. CHAD COLEMAN, Bellevue Reporter
Bright stars for a blue night
Photo Specialists
All cameras includes one year limited warranty
Residents and supporters of the Eastgate annexation effort will go door-to-door Saturday to gather signatures from property owners in Eastgate who have not yet signed an annexation petition. More than 700 property owners, representing more than 45 percent of assessed value in Eastgate, have already signed the annexation petition. The 50 percent goal must be reached by Dec. 10. On Saturday, volunteers will help gather the approximately 130 signatures still needed for annexation. The shifts – 9:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m. – will start at the South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way.
Eastgate is one of four unincorporated areas in South Bellevue that may be annexed by the City of Bellevue next year. County Executive Dow Constantine supports the proposed South Bellevue annexation, noting that the county can no longer afford to maintain current service levels in unincorporated urban areas. “The benefits of annexation are many: lower property taxes; increased level of essential services, direct access to city programs and services at the local level; effective land use, transportation and parks planning,” Constantine said. To volunteer or to sign a petition, contact Neighborhood Outreach at 425-452-6836.
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Kit and Frank Klein