Politics & Government

Lakewood's New Councilmembers Adjusting to $1 Million Budget Shortfall

City Manager Andrew Neiditz says the $1 million shortfall is not a spending issue but more of a revenue problem. Councilman Paul Bocchi believes the city needs a more vibrant commercial sector in order to create a larger tax-base.

The city's head finance guru told Patch the last time Lakewood experienced a budget shortfall was in 2009 when it adjusted a projected $1.5-$2 million gap at the end of the fiscal year.

Choi Halladay said cuts were proposed and that yielded a balanced budget.

But in a recent story published by The Tacoma News Tribune, the city announced Monday night a projected shortfall of slightly more than a $1 million and four positions that are currently a vacant would be lost under the budget-balancing plan.

Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Incoming councilmembers Marie Barth and Paul Bocchi are quickly acclimating to the budget constraints. Barth, who was sworn in this year replacing , said there is a learning curve as a new councilwoman, but she believes the city manager and staff have identified what savings can and will be accomplished.

As for what specific cuts are necessary, Neiditz proposed eliminating or reducing this year’s cost-of-living adjustments for managers, slashing training and supply budgets, reducing the number of city-paid cell phones and increasing certain fees, The Tribune reported, adding it's not a spending problem but more of revenue problem.

Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bocchi told Patch that in the short run, the City Council needs to continue to be conservative in on their budget assumptions and spending plans.

"In the mid to long range we need to have a larger and more vibrant commercial sector in order to create a larger tax-base," Bocchi said. "The announcement of is a good example of that."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Lakewood-JBLM