November 19, 2020 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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City of Shelton operator Donnie Henson on Tuesday removes downed leaves to
keep the sidewalk clear for pedestrians at the corner of North Fourth and
West
Franklin streets in downtown Shelton. On Tuesday evening, the Shelton City
Coun-
By Gordon Weeks"
gordon@masoncounty. com
The City of Shelton adopted a
$31.7 million budget for 2021, an
increase of $1.3 million from the
2020 budget.
The Shelton City Council
unanimously passed the budget
at its regular meeting Tuesday
evening conducted via Zoom. With
the prospect of lower revenues be-
cause of the coronavirus, five full-
time positions were eliminated.
N 0 one spoke during the public
hearing on the budget.
The budget is, balanced, but
will need some adjustments to
make it sustainable, said Aaron
BeMiller, the city’s finance direc-
tor.
“Overall, it’s a good budget,” he
said. '
The council members praised
Miller and his staff for developing
the budget during a difficult year
with everyone grappling .with the
effects of the coronavirus.
“It’s nice to finish the budget in
November, well ahead of sched-
ule,” said council member Joe
Schmit.
In developing the budget, City
Manager Jeff Niten wrote that
the city is grappling with three
unknowns: how long the Stay
Safe/Stay Home Order lasts, how
revenues this year and next will
be affected by the pandemic, and
how long it takes until “full eco-
nomic recovery.”
City passes 2021 budget
Because of this, the city’s Gen-
eral Fund revenue budget for
2021 is slightly lower than 2020
adopted revenues, and is more
then $580,000 less than 2019 ac-
tual revenues.
The $31,719,550 in expendi-
tures include $12,283,920 for the
General Fund, $2,038,190 for
the street fund, $61,880 for the
tourism fund, $496,630 for the
capital resource fund, $184,490
for the bond fund, $1,572,140 for
the capital improvement fund,
$3,882,060 for the water fund,
$7,849,390 for the sewer fund,
$781,810 for the solid waste fund,
$1,338,760 for the storm drain-
age fund, $206,700 for payroll
benefits, $932,010 for equipment
maintenance and replacement,
and $98,570 for the firefighters
pension fund.
The five posit-ions that were
eliminated include the homeless
resource coordinator and econom-
ic development coordinator — both
in the city manager’s department
— and a school resource officer
from the police department
The budget states, “Outside
of the reduction in positions, the
General Fund continues to fund
existing City services and. pro-
grams, adjusted for necessary
increases for inflation, benefit
increases, and contract require-
ments. No new initiatives or ex-
pansion of current programs in
the General Fund are funded in
2021.”
Page A-2 Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020
cil adopted a $31.7 million budget for 2021. Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
NONPROFIT BRIEFS
League hosts
climate change
program
Steve Ghan, a climate change spe-
cialist with Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, will talk about “Common
Ground with Climate Change” from 3
to 4 pm. today in a Zoom presentation
hosted by the League of Women Vot-
ers of Mason County’s Climate Change
Committee. .
In a news release, the group wrote,
“The League believes that global cli-
mate change is one of the most serious
threats facing our nation and planet
today. Climate change is having sig—
nificant effect on Washington State’s
natural and economic landscape. Ad-
dressing climate change impacts will
require a sustained commitment to
We deliver
or U-huul
integrating climate information into
legislation and government programs
and services.”
To connect with the Zoom meeting,
visit https://u802web.zoom.us/j/83691
297057?pwd=Qk9lUDlQTEpQRytLZ
ijYlR6chGUT09. The Meeting ID
is 836 9129 7057 and the passcode is
318798
Enroll for
insurance at
Mason General
Mason Health, in partnership with
CHOICE Regional Health Network,
will host a pop-up open enrollment
event for people interested in signing
up for a health insurance plan through
Washington Healthplanner from 10
am. to 3 pm. Dec. 15 in the emergen-
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cy department parking lot at Mason
General Hospital, 901 Mountain View
Drive, Shelton.
The pop-up tent will have safety
measures in place, including required
face masks and distancing, so clients
can meet with patient navigators safe-
1y.
Open enrollment for Washing-
ton Healthplanfinder is happening
through Dec. 15, for coverage start—
ing Jan. 1. Those who enroll between
Dec. 16 and Jan. 15 will have coverage
starting Feb. 1. r
Susana Lopez, a Mason Health
patient financial advocate, will offer
Spanish language services at the Dec.
15 event. Bring the legal names and
birthdates of all household members,
home and mailing address, Social Se.-
curity number or immigration docu-
ments, income verification (pay stubs,
tax return or W-2), tax filing status,
current health plan information and
tribal membership.
Washington Healthplanfinder is an
online marketplace to compare and
enroll in health insurance coverage
and gain access to programs such as
Washington Apple Health (Medicaid).
Enrollment is offered year-round to
individuals and families eligible for
Apple Health.
In Mason County, residents can
use Washington Healthplanfinder to
enroll with Coordinate Care, Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of Washing-
ton, Lifewise Healthplan of Washing-
ton, Molina Healthcare and Regence
Blueshield. Dental plans include Del-
ta Dental, Dentegra Dental, Lifewise
Family Dental and LifewiSe Individu-
al Pediatric Dental.
For more information about Apple
Health, call 1-800-562-3022 or askma-
gi@hca.wa.gov. '
I Compiled by reporter Gordon Weeks
. 3
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