Bonney Lake and Sumner Courier-Herald, December 12, 2012

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SEE INSIDE: Sumner girl chosen to play title role in Renton production of ‘Annie’, Page 3 . . . . Seasonal Employment opens up opportunities, Page 5 . . .

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012 | 75 cents

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Council goes with April for parks district vote

Shop with a cop 2012

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Concerns dealt with timing and cost of ballot measure By Brian Beckley Staff Writer

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Katie Waugh, 8, and East Pierce Firefighter Tera Green pick out Christmas gifts during the Annual Shop With a Cop event Dec. 7 at Target. Right, Cheyanne Barber, 11, wraps one of her gifts with the help of Officer Tobie Johnson. According to Bonney Lake Public Information Officer Todd Green, this year the Department helped 20 kids pick out presents. The Police Department raised more than $2,000 for the event, including $500 from their guild and an additional $600 from Target. Photos by Dennis Box

Today, Wednesday, brings a 50 percent chance of showers with high temperatures in the mid-40s, changing to mostly clear overnight with lows in the 30s. Showers and mostly cloudy skies with highs in the 40s are on tap through the weekend with overnight lows in the mid-30s.

Budget ready to be approved

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By Brian Beckley Staff Writer

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The Bonney Lake City Council completed the first half of its budget review during their Dec. 4 council meeting and expected to finish the review and pass the 2013-14 spending plan Tuesday night. Overall, the city plans to spend $84.6 million over the next two years: $43.2 million in 2013 and $41.3 million in 2014. The overall numbers include all of the city’s funds, including utilities and special projects. Looking only at the city’s general fund, the

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expenditures are estimated at $13.6 million in 2013 and 413.98 million in 2014. According to the budget document, this year’s plan is a “essentially a ‘status quo’ budget, maintaining current operations.” Revenues are projected at $13.3 million in 2013 and $14.1 million in 2014. Because the city is hoping to make up in 2014 the additional funds it is spending partially in 2013, City Administrator Don Morrison called this spending plan “more of a true biennial budget.” There is an overall gap between revenue and

See Budget, Page 3

See District, Page 13

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After months of discussion at workshops and at park board meetings, the City Council is poised to call for an election in April on the creation of a metropolitan parks district. The city’s parks board forwarded to the council three options, including the April vote, a November vote and a simple resolution calling for an election, but not giving a specific date. During the Dec. 4 workshop, the council discussed the issue again, with some council members questioning whether there was enough time before the April election date to get the information about the district out to the public. “I think that April is just too darn soon,” Councilman Jim Rackley said, asking if it was in the city’s best interest to spend the money to put the measure on the ballot with such a short run-up to the election. “I support all this, but I think it’s too soon,” he said. It is estimated to cost about $25,000 to run a ballot measure in April while some of that cost could be mitigated in November because of other issues on the ballot. Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman said he agreed the timing was “difficult” but he felt it was time to hold the election and that he has talked with the people who will be supporting the measure and they believe there is time. Councilman Donn Lewis agreed.


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