PORT TOWNSEND – The city of Port Townsend is preparing to cut three positions to save $160,000.
City Manager David Timmons said that, with a pall of economic uncertainty hanging over the city’s retail sector without car-ferry service, more such cuts could be considered in 2008.
“Depending on the economy, and how things turn around, we would look at additional cuts,” he said.
Hearing the bad news Monday night, the City Council directed Timmons to refine his budget recommendations and come back at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the historic City Hall chambers for final approval of a tight $7.5 million general fund budget.
“It saves the city approximately $160,000, but it’s also going to reduce service levels and make things a little more tricky to operate,” Timmons said.
“But it’s designed not to hobble the whole organization.”
Timmons declined on Tuesday to name the positions to be cut, saying that was being negotiated with the union.
“Our general fund revenues are stagnant and we have to address that,” he said.
“Utility funds and enterprise funds are doing fine.”
During the council meeting Monday, Timmons indicated that the loss of vehicle-ferry services was only part of the reason the city is strapped for cash.
The city also is lagging in new construction and dealing with a soft real estate market, he said.
