Rural Commercial Centers

Overview | All cities | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Size – Small
Property value – Moderate
Commercial activity – High
Growth – Moderate
Geography – Mostly east

Cluster characteristics
Population
Economic characteristics
Other community characteristics

Fiscal conditions
Major revenue base
General financial outlook

Aberdeen, Chehalis, Colville, East Wenatchee, Ephrata, Grand Coulee, Kelso, Morton, Napavine, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, Quincy, Sedro-Woolley, Shelton, Tonasket, Twisp, Woodland

These cities have enough commercial activity to set them apart from most of their neighbors. However, they still struggle to provide ample economic opportunities for residents. Local economic conditions have continued to worsen over the past year. Most of these cities find it harder every year to meet needs. Most have reopened the 2009 budget or expect to do so in response to declining revenues. To balance budgets, these cities are reducing general government spending and reducing the scope of services they provide.

All data is recorded as median value for all cities in the cluster.

Data for individual cities may vary significantly in some categories.

Cluster Characteristics

Population

Average population size:

Year 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Pop. 3,218 4,855 4,870 4,855 4,835 4,833 4,833 4,860 4,990 5,088 5,118

Population density, 2009: 1,359 persons per square mile
Population growth rate, 2000-2009: 4.9%

Economic characteristics

Median household income (1999): $30,683
Poverty rate (1999): 19%
Major local employers by industry (1999):

Major local employers % of cities in cluster
(w/ industry as 1 of 3 top employers)

Retail trade 89%

Health care and social services 67%

Manufacturing 61%

Other Community Characteristics

Date of incorporation: 1908
GMA-planning cities: 56%
Number of housing units:

2000 2009 Growth
2000-2009

1,784 2,085 6.7%

Fiscal Conditions

Major Revenue Base

Per capita assessed value, 2008: $66,863
Per capita sales & use tax revenue, 2008: $219
Decline in sales & use tax distributions, October 2007 - May 2009: 31%

General Financial Outlook

Change in local economic conditions since June 2008:

(% of respondents)

Improved 17%

Stayed about the same 33%

Worsened 50%

Ability to meet financial needs:

(% of respondents)

Less able Same Better able

This year (FY 2009) compared with four years ago 75% 25% 0%

Next year compared with this year 75% 17% 8%

Four years from now compared with this year 67% 25% 8%

Steps taken to balance the budget:

(% of respondents)

Adopted with 2009 budget Imposed after 2009 budget was adopted Not as of survey date

Staffing changes

Froze hiring (city is not replacing employees when they leave/retiree) 17% 17% 67%

Decreased the number of hours/days worked or imposed furloughs 0% 0% 100%

Offered voluntary leave without pay 0% 0% 100%

Laid off employees 33% 0% 67%

Compensation/benefit changes

Eliminated salary increases for employees 0% 0% 100%

Delayed or reduced salary increases for employees 0% 0% 100%

Reduced spending on some employee benefits (i.e. deferred compensation, health care) 0% 0% 100%

Eliminated some employee benefits (i.e. deferred compensation, health care) 0% 0% 100%

Required increased employee contributions for employee/family health care 0% 0% 100%

Cities reopening budget or decreasing expenditures in response to reduced revenues:

Have taken these steps 33%

Had not but considered likely 42%

Had not and did not consider likely 25%

Actions cities are taking to balance budgets for remainder of 2009 (shows responses only from cities planning to amend budgeted expenditures):

Significant increase Slight increase Maintain Slight decrease Significant decrease Not authorized in your city

Infrastructure spending 0% 0% 29% 43% 29% 0%

Public safety spending 0% 0% 43% 29% 29% 0%

General government spending 0% 0% 12% 63% 25% 0%

Scope of services 0% 0% 43% 57% 0% 0%

Size of workforce 0% 0% 71% 29% 0% 0%

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Cluster 2