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LOCAL NEWS

Misleading report

"Dipping into reserves" isn't the whole story, officials indicate

SUNNYSIDE (Wednesday 1-6-99)---Reports that the city council approved dipping $100,000 into city reserve funds isn't the full story, officials noted today.

Responding to a Tuesday story in the Daily Sun News, Councilman Don Vlieger said press representatives at DSN "just don't understand the budget".

Indications are reporters might be penciling notes during a snowstorm of gobbledygook information.

DNS headlines said "Council balances the 1998 budget--$100,000 in reserve funds used in process."

The DSN indicated the city has to dip into reserves to pay for the police department's investigative service, for garbage pickup, and for ambulance/emergency medical services. Not so.

"All these funds are self-sustaining," Vlieger said. "Investigative dollars come from drug forfeiture monies, garbage is paid monthly by all residents, and the EMS fund is paid from an ongoing household tax and ambulance service billings."

None of these funds affect the current expense fund (general fund).

If you want to know about true budget overspending or surplus, Vlieger advises citizens to keep their eyes on the current expense fund. He said over-expenditures come out of the fund, and surpluses flow into it.

At the end of the year, when the budget is finally balanced, considering all spending and revenue incoming, the current expense fund is either in the red or in the black.

Exact figures for 1998 will be known at the city council meeting Jan. 11, when all funds are tallied for the year just past.

Bottom line, the city is not going to dip $100,000 into current expense reserves in order to pay for 1998 spending.

Misleading report "Dipping into reserves" isn't the whole story, officials indicate SUNNYSIDE (Wednesday 1-6-99)---Reports that the city council approved dipping $100,000 into city reserve funds isn't the full story, officials noted today. Responding to a Tuesday story in the Daily Sun News, Councilman Don Vlieger said press representatives at DSN "just don't understand the budget". Indications are reporters might be penciling notes during a snowstorm of gobbledygook information. DNS headlines said "Council balances the 1998 budget--$100,000 in reserve funds used in process." The DSN indicated the city has to dip into reserves to pay for the police department's investigative service, for garbage pickup, and for ambulance/emergency medical services. Not so. "All these funds are self-sustaining," Vlieger said. "Investigative dollars come from drug forfeiture monies, garbage is paid monthly by all residents, and the EMS fund is paid from an ongoing household tax and ambulance service billings." None of these funds affect the current expense fund (general fund). If you want to know about true budget overspending or surplus, Vlieger advises citizens to keep their eyes on the current expense fund. He said over-expenditures come out of the fund, and surpluses flow into it. At the end of the year, when the budget is finally balanced, considering all spending and revenue incoming, the current expense fund is either in the red or in the black. Exact figures for 1998 will be known at the city council meeting Jan. 11, when all funds are tallied for the year just past. Bottom line, the city is not going to dip $100,000 into current expense reserves in order to pay for 1998 spending.