In years past city budgets have drawn little attention and were often passed with unanimous nods by city councils. Since the recession hit in 2007, city budgets have become a financial juggling act with painful and perilous decisions on nearly every page for staff and councilors.

The Maple Valley City Council approved the 2011 budget in the final meeting of 2010, Dec. 13, on a 6-1 vote.

City Manager David Johnston described the budget in the prologue of the document as, “the most challenging one I have had to develop in my professional career.”

Voting for the budget were Mayor Noel Gerken, Deputy Mayor Victoria Laise Jonas, council members Dana Parnello, Bill Allison, Layne Barnes and Erin Weaver. The dissenting vote was cast by Councilwoman Linda Johnson.

The budget document noted the recession began in 2007 and the economy has yet to recover.

The City Council was told in October the city faced about a $1.2 million shortfall.

The city took a series of financial steps to bring the budget into balance including eliminating the cost of living and merit increases for staff and increasing health care deductible payment and co-pays.

The city ended the 25 percent transfer of the sales tax revenue to the capital program, moving it into the general fund, which brings the city about $440,000.

Also the city will end subsidies to the Lake Wilderness Golf Course, which means a change in the food and beverage part of the operation, saving about $170,000.

Another cash envelope for the city will be the Fred Meyer shopping center, which Powell Development is planning to begin work on in 2011. If the project is finished in 2011 it could bring in nearly $300,000 to the city coffers.

A few of the big steps in the 2011 budget included an increase in the utility tax from 3 to 6 percent to pay for three more police officers, increase the detective position to full time and additional public safety support. Johnston had presented the need for the officers because King County Sheriff Sue Rahr will close Precinct No. 3 in Maple Valley because of county budget cuts.

Losing the precinct meant the backup support Maple Valley had enjoyed for the past 10 years would be diminished, although the sheriff plans on setting up satellite offices.

Gerken described the utility tax measure for police officers as a “big step forward. It was tough to do, but it made sense.”

The mayor pointed out there were no other expansions in staffing and considerable efficiency actions taken in the budget.

Johnson said she disagreed with the utility tax measure.

“The way we earmarked every cent for the police department,” Johnson said. “There are other departments. I didn’t think it was thought thorough enough.”

Gerken pointed to the ending the golf course subsidy as an important budget move.

“We made some changes to the fee structure and food and beverage,” Gerken said. “That was a big deal toward eliminating the golf course subsidy.”