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Guest Column: Looking toward the future

By Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow/for The Herald

Can you imagine an overview of 2009 that does not mention the economy?

Unfortunately, neither can I. Although Sumner started cutting back spending in February 2008, a big chunk of our revenue comes from sales tax. People are simply buying fewer cars, less furniture, less of everything. In the 2009-2010 budget, we made some tough choices.

However, it is this same difficult situation that brought out the best in people. I’d like to tell you a little more of their stories.

The Sumner City Council led off by not raising the property tax rate. Sumner has the second lowest tax property tax rate in the entire state. And, with one step the council could have eliminated all their own budget woes by simply passing the pain on to residents. But, they did not do that, and I can’t thank them enough.

The city employees sacrificed a lot as well. Through furlough days, cash donations and exchanging COLA for vacation time, our employees, councilmembers and I collectively donated $400,000 to the city of Sumner.

As if tightening their financial belts at home wasn’t enough, we asked the employees to do it at work too. We’re asking employees to do more with a lot less. Efficiency is a good thing, and I’m all for it. We just need to make sure that our choices are also good for the long run.

We also had a great gift from the past councilmembers. During the building boom earlier this decade, they saved money. Rather than blowing it on special projects, they saved it for the rainy days they figured had to come. Well, it’s pouring, and their prudence gave us the extra funding we needed while also allowing us to not touch our conservative reserve funds.

Sumner also did well this year in gaining support from outside our own city. We received a COPS grant to fund an officer for three years, and we received money to rework the intersection at Fryar/Traffic/Main. In addition to funding, we also built relationships. Having the Port of Tacoma come to Sumner and agree that our roads and infrastructure are regional challenges, not just city challenges, is a huge step forward for our citizens, our businesses and our region.

Speaking of business, we gained new business partners as well. Mud Bay and Jay Lee’s Honda opened retail stores here in Sumner, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters are opening their West Coast roasting facility here.

As we look ahead, 2010 looks like more of the same. Revenue is neither getting worse nor better.

The year ahead will also be about exploring two big issues: Parking access to the Sounder Station and a YMCA facility in Sumner.

Both 2009 and 2010 are bringing us definite challenges, but these are still good times. They bring out the best generosity and creativity in people, and we’re seeing that happen here in Sumner.

Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow can be reached at denslow@ci.sumner.wa.us.