Governor praises Ephrata budget

EPHRATA — Gov. Chris Gregoire praised Ephrata city staff’s decision to give up 2010 cost-of-living pay raises.

The decision came as part of the city’s $15 million 2010 budget. The city plans to use the money to hire another police officer and an assistant fire chief. As a result of the staff’s decision, the mayor and councilmembers also gave up their salary increases for 2010.

The governor wrote that she had heard about the decision from former state Sen. Joyce Mulliken, who praised the city’s job in balancing the budget.

“As state and local leaders face more and more difficult budget scenarios dealing with decreased revenue and increased needs, budget balancing has become an incredibly challenging reality,” Gregoire stated. “By allowing citizens to help set priorities, you have focused scarce resources on core services, such as the street and water projects, expanding recreation and improving police protection.”

She congratulated the city for improving efficiency and focusing on the highest priority needs of the community, as well as sacrificing pay increases.

“I congratulate everyone for their tremendous sacrifice and unwavering commitment to public service,” Gregoire wrote. “I have no doubt that the City of Ephrata will move forward and emerge from this recession as an example of great government from which we can all learn many important lessons.”

Mayor Chris Jacobson pointed out the governor didn’t give credit to the staff.

“This was promoted by staff and encouraged by staff, and it seems to congratulate all of us but not staff,” he said. “So I congratulate staff.”