S.L. Council OKs 2010 budget

The Salt Lake City Council wrapped up a "grueling" budget season Tuesday, approving a 2010 general-fund budget marked by a number of fee increases for residents and across-the-board pay cuts for city employees.

Throughout the nearly two-month process, the council never strayed far from the $198 million budget proposal handed down by Mayor Ralph Becker in early May.

"It was very tight — to the bone," Councilman Van Turner said of Becker's budget. "It was austere. It was a budget like I haven't seen down here before. We had no growth. We had department heads who had to find lots of places to cut. … It's been tough on employees. It's been a hard year for all of us. I think we did the right thing. We balanced the budget. We're living within our means."

The budget comes in $12 million leaner than a year ago, due largely to a slumping national economy. In Salt Lake City, sales-tax revenue fell $4.6 million and building permit fees were expected to be $4.5 million off last year's mark.

"This, as everyone knows, is a really challenging budget season," Councilman Soren Simonsen said.

Salt Lake leaders avoided City Hall layoffs despite difficult financial times, but city employees were left shouldering increased health-care costs and a handful of unpaid furlough days — all while taking a 1.5 percent pay cut.

Additionally, a number of positions throughout the city, including the police and fire departments, will remain unfilled during the year.

The City Council rejected fee increases for business licenses and ground-transportation workers. A $1 fee for online transactions was also abandoned.

The budget also cleared the way for more than $3 million to fund North Temple improvements, a gang-prevention program and a historic planner.

Salt Lakers, however, will still have to pay more for a number of services.

It will cost more to tee off (adult fees will increase at all city golf courses effective Jan. 1) and go toes up (burial plots at the city cemetery will run 20 percent more and cemetery fees will be bumped up 50 percent on holidays and weekends).

Fees for trash collection will increase $1.25 a month. Vending cart owners will have to pony up an extra $75 each year. Parking ticket late fees will jump $10.

Council members also approved a $150,000 annual fund for special events and added $75,000 in one-time money to help festivals and parades adjust to a new city policy requiring event organizers to pay for police and other services.

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