Draft Budget For Bend Is 20-Percent Leaner

By Ethan Lindsey | May 15, 2009 9:32 a.m. | Updated: June 16, 2010 11:59 p.m. | Bend, OR

The city of Bend voted Thursday night a bare-bones draft budget.The preliminary $375 million spending plan for the next two years is a 20-percent cut from the city’s last budget.Ethan Lindsey reports from Bend.
During the past decade's flood of growth, the city’s budget relied in large part on construction fees and expected population growth.When both those things dried up, the city was left with a budget 20-percent larger than it could afford.In  the past year, the council has laid off 43 workers and eliminated 56 unfilled positions.The budget under discussion now includes 20 more layoffs, and an increase in sewer and water fees for all residents.Tom Greene is a realtor and a new city councilor elected in November.Tom Greene: “There are a lot of cuts. This is a lot leaner, meaner budget at this point. But there are some things we need to fund, just to grow so when we come out of this it won’t hit us as hard next time.”The draft budget will move to a final city council vote – that won’t come for several weeks.

© 2009 OPB

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