WAPATO —Wapato City Council may have some tough decisions to make between now and the time the final city budget is approved, which must happen no later than Dec. 31.

Wapato Mayor Jesse Farias presented a preliminary budget to the council at its study session on Monday night, and told council members that, at this point in the budgeting process, projected expenditures exceed projected revenues for the coming year in Wapato.

“It’s about $159,000 out of whack,” said Farias.

The operating budget for police, jail, fire department, court, portions of city hall, the mayor’s office, and parks, for 2009 is just over $2.99 million.

For 2008, the budget for those same expenditures is about $2.74 million, 
Council members heard presentations by the department heads of police, fire, and public works, who explained their funding requests.

Police Chief Rick Sanchez is asking for funding to hire one additional police officer and one position in the jail.

Fire Chief Santos Valdez said the rising costs of employee benefits and insurance have contributed to the increase he’s asking for.

He also wants to increase the amount paid to volunteers when they respond to a fire call, in an effort to keep them on the volunteer roll.

“Volunteers are my backbone,” Santos said.

Public Works Director Gary Potter said spiraling fuel costs have contributed significantly to his budget requirements.

In a memo that Farias delivered to council members near the conclusion of the study session, he reminded them that revenue projections for 2009 called for no increase from the this year.

He said no funds are included in the 2009 budget for the operation of the municipal swimming pool or the community center.

He also said no money has been identified in the budget for wage increases for police or jail employees, or for raises for department heads.

Both the police and jail employees are represented by the Teamsters, and negotiations are still underway with the union, Farias said.

Other increasing costs over which the city has no control are insurance costs, up 15 percent, electric power costs, expected to go up 8 percent in November, and rising medical costs for jail inmates.

The city is mandated to provide medical care for individuals held in the jail.

“As usual, the task before us appears to be daunting,” the Farias memo said, “however, with careful discussion and cooperation we should be able to produce a balanced budget on time.”

The council won’t begin budget-balancing deliberations though, until after a public hearing on the budget at its Oct. 6 meeting.

The council will then have five regular meetings to bring projected revenues and expenditures into line.

The Oct. 6 meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the city hall council chamber.