NEWS
6 • March 8, 2012
News Briefs
City budget history reviewed By Kelly Moore Splash Staff Writer
The Liberty Lake City Council reviewed the city’s budgeting history in a meeting Tuesday night. Finance Director RJ Stevenson presented the overall review of past forecasts compared to actual revenues and expenditures. “This is what we asked for,” said Mayor Pro Tem Odin Langford, who led the meeting in Mayor Steve Peterson’s absence. “It’s time to put the past in the past and look forward to the coming year.” In his presentation, Stevenson noted a number of revenues exceeded what was budgeted. These included sales tax, utility tax, criminal justice and admission tax, and streamline sales tax and other intergovernmental revenues. With the unexpected revenues carried over into 2012 from last year’s ending fund balance, Stevenson suggested a number of options. He said Council members could do a number of things with it: keep it in the bank, invest in the bond market, invest in current projects, commit to projects to be completed in the near future and pay off debt. Stevenson also advocated for the Council to designate utility tax funds solely as
e Vot lley a V l tra CenSchools Campaign Co-Chairpersons: Angela Falcone and Amy Mason Campaign Leadership Team: MJ Bolt Vern DiGiovanni Jen Frater Rondielle Frye Jim and Deb Howard Jan Hutton Kelli Gardner Gordon Grassi Steve Lalonde Jean Marczynski Tim Nootenboom Jerrol Olson Don Ressa Melanie Rose Jay Rowell Ben Small Terrie VanderWegen Matt Walter
The Splash
revenue for projects in the capital facilities plan. He suggested the Council discuss how it hopes to use the utility tax or hold a public hearing about what its purpose will be moving forward.
In other business • Interim City Administrator Mike Cecka said he expects the Council to further narrow the city administrator candidate list of 13 in an executive session next meeting. The finalists will be announced shortly before the final interviewing process, tentatively scheduled for April 13 and 14. • At the next meeting, the Council will hear a presentation from Canfield and Associates, the city’s risk management firm, as an educational overview of available programs. • Peterson and Council Member Susan Schuler were absent; Council Member Josh Beckett participated in the meeting via teleconference. • The Council passed a resolution to appropriate $10,000 for Project Access, a regional program that provides medical services to low-income and uninsured residents. The measure passed with Council Member Keith Kopelson dissenting.
or all-day, tuition-based kindergarten Officers seeking tips from Greenacres Elementary break-in classes with extended child care. OpSpokane Valley officers responded to an alarm call early Saturday at Greenacres Elementary School, 17915 E. Fourth St. Officers responding to the 2:57 a.m. call located a window pried out of the wall on the east side of the school. Officers were able to see a ceiling mount projector hanging by wires inside the classroom, quickly set up a perimeter around the school and requested a Spokane Police Department K-9 unit to assist in a search. No suspects were located. Anyone who may have seen any suspicious people or vehicles during this timeframe are urged to call Crime Check at 456-2233.
Kindergarten registration begins Registration begins March 15 at 8 a.m. for incoming kindergarten students in the Central Valley School District. Parents are encouraged to enroll early to select from the various options of morning classes, afternoon classes
tions vary by school. Central Valley schools will also begin accepting registration for new first-grade students beginning March 15. Parents should come prepared with up-to-date immunization records, original state-certified birth certificate and proof of residence using a current electric bill. Registration packets are now available for pick up to complete prior to the first day of registration. To enroll a child in kindergarten for the 2012-13 school year, the student must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 (or 6 for first-grade students). Registration for kindergarten students living in the Greenacres and Liberty Lake elementary enrollment areas will take place at the Central Valley Kindergarten Center, 1512 N. Barker Road in Spokane Valley. For more information, visit www. cvsd.org or call 228-5425.
LL, MeadowWood opening Liberty Lake and MeadowWood golf courses are opening this week for the season at 2011 rates, a Spokane County
See NEWS, page 23
Thank You Central Valley Voters! To the 14,290 Central Valley voters who understood the importance of renewing our expiring School Programs and Operations Levy with continued funding for the next three years and voted “Yes” on February 14, our students and campaign volunteers say THANK YOU! Our Replacement Levy passed with 59.3% approval, well above the 50% needed to continue supporting programs vital for a quality education for our kids. After a hard-fought campaign, it is important to recognize the hundreds of committed volunteers who spent thousands of hours working to ensure the quality schools essential to maintain a vibrant community.
Contributing Businesses and Organizations: Adams Elementary PTSA Deena Allen ALSC Architects Kerri and Tim Ames Shirley Andrews Architects West, Inc. Vicky Booth Bowdish Rockets Booster Club Broadway Elementary PTO Carolyn's Cake Decorating & Candy Supplies LLC Central Valley Co-Curricular Activities Association Central Valley Education Association Central Valley Kindergarten Center PTO Chester Elementary PTA Tim and Joanne Comer Maggie Crabtree DCI Engineers Vern and Shannon DiGiovanni Thomas Dingus Jeff Dufresne Evergreen Middle School PTO GSI – Greater Spokane Incorporated* Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce* Greenacres Elementary PTSA Greenacres Middle School PTA Hawk Pics (campaign photographer) Horizon Middle School PTA Integrus Architecture Jacque and George Johnson Denise and Mark Kennedy
Steve and Audrey LaLonde Liberty Lake Elementary PTSA Madsen Mitchell Evenson & Conrad, PLLC Richard Maes II Ed and Sharon Mikesell NAC Architecture OAC Opportunity Elementary PTO Outlook Vision, Inc John and Janet Parker Ponderosa PTSA Progress Elementary PTSA Public School Employees of Central Valley Sue Rasmussen Neva and Roy Ringwald Damon and Joy Smith Cindy and Tim Sothen South Pines Elementary PTSA S.P.A.C.E. SPH Controls Spokane Association of Realtors* Stevens – Clay- Manix, P.S. Sunrise Elementary PTO University Elementary PTA University High School Booster Club Terrie and Pete VanderWegen VEBA Service Group, LLC Grant and Karen Walter Maureen and Bob Weisbeck *endorsement
We Appreciate Our Dedicated Volunteers More than 700 parents, students, employees and community members volunteered their time, energy and passion in support of the Vote YES campaign. In addition to ringing doorbells and writing letters, these volunteers placed yard signs across the Valley and waved signs on busy street corners in support of our kids. And, more than 900 individuals and businesses endorsed the levy campaign. THANK YOU!!
Paid for by Central Valley Citizens for Education www.voteyescvschools.com