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Residents urge council to change spending priorities, question salaries and park capital plan
Summary
Multiple residents told the West Richland City Council that the city should not rely on a citizen advisory committee to address budget shortfalls and criticized staff wage increases and the capital improvement plan’s park maintenance facility costs.
At the March 18 West Richland City Council meeting several residents criticized the city’s approach to budgeting and capital spending.
An unidentified resident who spoke during the first public-comment period objected to the city’s flyer seeking volunteers for a Citizen Advisory Committee to review funding challenges. The speaker said budgeting is an elected official responsibility and described the committee as appearing to be “a cop out.” The resident also said the city was overspending on staff wages and noted the mayor’s salary change since taking office; she said she would send detailed comparative salary information to council.
Gail Brown, who gave her address as 4405 Chelan Drive, spoke during the second public-comment period and questioned the capital improvement plan priorities. Brown said the CIP includes a $3.4 million park maintenance package before 2030, split into $2.2 million for a facility and $1.2 million for equipment. She also raised line items she said were planned elsewhere in the CIP, including a $1 million generator, a $1 million municipal services parking/storage item and a $175,000 security-yard gate upgrade. Brown said she preferred spending on park improvements that are visible to residents rather than on what she called “Taj Mahal” facilities.
Both speakers said they would provide more data to the council. Council members acknowledged the comments but did not take immediate action at the March 18 meeting. The city staff did not announce changes to the CIP during the meeting; the residents asked that the council reconsider spending priorities and provide clearer justification for capital projects and staffing levels.
