Toppenish appears to be headed for a repeat of last year’s smooth budgeting process, as revenues and expenditures have tracked as expected through the year, according to finance director Linda Mead.  
She and other city department heads presented their budget proposals for the coming year to the City Council at its Nov. 9 regular meeting.
Police Chief Adam Diaz said his department has worked successfully within its budget for this year, and he is asking for an enhancement to the 2010 budget to be used for patrol-vehicle replacement.
Diaz said his department budgeted for 17 patrol officers, but has been operating with 15, as he has worked to fill vacancies.
He also said the Yakama Nation has completed a jail, which means that their prisoners will no longer be housed in Toppenish.
However, he said he expected no loss of revenue to the city, since Yakima County will use the cells that are available.
Finance Director Linda Mead said the budget for her department would also be “about the same,” with the exception of salary increases mandated by union contracts. She is also asking for the addition of one finance tech, who will be permanently assigned to the utilities customer counter.
Mead did say that the city’s fireman retirement fund was being depleted at the rate of about $40,000 per year, and would require an infusion of funds to replenish it in years to come. 
Special projects assistant Tom Kehm said he has requested budget enhancements for improvement of the city’s computer system.
Kehm said a replacement for the e-mail server is needed to provide a better retrieval system.
He is also requesting new operating system software and upgrades to the Microsoft Office programs.
City Manager Bill Murphy said the legislative, municipal court, and executive funds are the same or slightly less than this year.
Mayor Loren Belton expressed his appreciation to the city department heads and employees for holding down expenditures and working within the budget.
“We’re all very appreciative of the team,” Belton said. “It’s a job well done.”
The next regular meeting of the council will be Nov. 23, at 7 p.m., in the council chamber of city hall.