Small Residential

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

Cluster characteristics
Population
Economic characteristics
Other community characteristics

Fiscal conditions
Major revenue base
General financial outlook

Albion, Cashmere, Castle Rock, Colton, Cosmopolis, Coulee Dam, Davenport, Electric City, Entiat, Krupp, Lind, Metaline Falls, North Bonneville, Prescott, Reardan, Rock Island, South Cle Elum, White Salmon

Varying in character from quaint towns to small cities, these communities have relatively low property values and commercial activity, but experienced moderate growth over the past decade. More than 80 percent indicate they will be less likely to meet financial needs in 2010. Nearly half have reopened the 2009 budget in response to declining revenues, or expect to do so. All cities reopening the budget are decreasing general government spending and the scope of services.

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. 506 740 745 744 743 778 808 847 874 871 878

Population density, 2009: 1,095 persons per square mile
Population growth rate, 2000-2009: 1.7%

Economic characteristics

Median household income (1999): $37,494
Poverty rate (1999): 12%
Major local employers by industry (1999):

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

Retail trade 67%

Health care and social services 39%

Accommodation 33%

Other Community Characteristics

Date of incorporation: 1906
GMA-planning cities: 44%
Number of housing units:

2000 2009 Growth
2000-2009

311 370 5.2%

Fiscal Conditions

Major Revenue Base

Per capita assessed value, 2008: $41,228
Per capita sales & use tax revenue, 2008: $71
Decline in sales & use tax distributions, October 2007 - May 2009: 29%

General Financial Outlook

Change in local economic conditions since June 2008:

(% of respondents)

Improved 0%

Stayed about the same 43%

Worsened 57%

Ability to meet financial needs:

(% of respondents)

Less able Same Better able

This year (FY 2009) compared with four years ago 57% 43% 0%

Next year compared with this year 83% 17% 0%

Four years from now compared with this year 67% 17% 17%

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) 0% 29% 71%

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

Offered voluntary leave without pay 0% 0% 100%

Laid off employees 14% 0% 86%

Compensation/benefit changes

Eliminated salary increases for employees 0% 14% 86%

Delayed or reduced salary increases for employees 14% 14% 71%

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 14% 0% 86%

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

Have taken these steps 11%

Had not but considered likely 33%

Had not and did not consider likely 56%

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% 33% 0% 67% 0%

Public safety spending 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%

General government spending 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0%

Scope of services 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0%

Size of workforce 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%

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Cluster 5