The performance of East Wenatchee council members on June 9 deserved applause, particularly in contrast to other local governments that are discovering $17 million in-kind obligations, or suddenly freezing hiring. But spectators remained silent because East Wenatchee’s meeting was routine, even boring.
    Nick Gerde, the City’s treasurer summarized the budget by saying current revenues and expenditures are reasonably close to forecasts. Accurate forecasts make for boring reports and silent spectators.
    Property tax receipts met projections. Sales taxe revenues are down as projected, although sales taxes revenues might fall even more than projected.
    The revenues that provided a little entertainment were utility taxes, collected for the first time this year. They should help fund the six-year transportation plan that includes preventative maintenance to avoid three times the expense later.
    Utility taxes are somewhat higher than forecast, which was conservative because it was a first-time projection. Under-estimating revenues did not energize the spectators.
    Wanting to squash the undemonstrative people’s hope for surging revenues, both Mayor Steve Lacy and Gerde explained revenues are higher in part because non-residents city are being taxed and complaining. The finance department has a list of people who will receive refunds and is verifying correct lists with utilities.
    Expenditures are under budget, indicating department heads are controlling costs. Given those qualifiers, Lacy and Gerde ever so tentatively anticipate a modest surplus, or at least not dipping into reserves.
    Nevertheless the council scrutinizes expenditures. Council members Dennis Hendricks and Dave Bremmer voted against paying $118 paid for flowers sent to a grieving family after the death of an employee’s mother. Lacy told the Wenatchee World that the city has an informal policy of sending flowers when a staff member loses an immediate member of the family.
    As a taxpayer I like department heads showing sympathy to public employees. Citizens worrying about wasting taxpayer money on similar informal policies should be comforted by the apparent scrutiny this council gives every expenditure.
    Council members wisely voted 6-1 to pay $10,000 to the City of Wenatchee to pay a portion of pipeline bridge repairs, and in appreciation of securing stimulus funds to paint the bridge.      Wenatchee had born $102,000 in expenditures in an emergency effort and has raised over $50,000 from other inter-regional cooperation. Five citizens spoke in favor of that expenditure, pointing out the benefits for agriculture, tourism, growth, recreation, and conservation of our valuable drinking water aquifer,  
    Council member Dennis Hendrickson supports the bridge, but voted against this expenditure. Despite the comforting financial outlook, he said, “We need the money.”
    After the meeting, council member George Buckner said that he thinks the city could ease budget impact by paying $5,000 this year and next.
    The Council seems to be managing their finances well, building intergovernmental relationships, and planning for the future. Effective administration was greeted with silence. It’s too bad, because a choir, cast, or basketball team that performed as well would get a standing ovation.