Medium Commercial Centers

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

Size – Large
Property value – Moderate
Commercial activity – Moderate
Growth – Low to moderate
Geography – East and west

Cluster characteristics
Population
Economic characteristics
Other community characteristics

Fiscal conditions
Major revenue base
General financial outlook

Bellingham, Bremerton, Burien, Enumclaw, Kennewick, Lacey, Lakewood, Oak Harbor, Pasco, Richland, Spokane Valley, Yakima

With higher population growth and lower family incomes, moderate retail and manufacturing activity defines most of these cities. These communities have experienced a deteriorating local economy, and all are finding it harder to meet fiscal needs this year than last year. In response to budget challenges, most cities in this group have reopened the 2009 budget and frozen hiring. A similar number have reduced spending on infrastructure and general government, in some cases making significant cuts. Nearly half have been forced to lay off staff.

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. 35,229 37,984 38,305 38,840 41,650 42,660 44,190 47,610 50,210 52,290 54,490

Population density, 2009: 2,596 persons per square mile
Population growth rate, 2000-2009: 15.7%

Economic characteristics

Median household income (1999): $39,449
Poverty rate (1999): 14%
Major local employers by industry (1999):

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

Retail trade 100%

Health care and social services 75%

Manufacturing 50%

Other Community Characteristics

Date of incorporation: 1913
GMA-planning cities: 100%
Number of housing units:

2000 2009 Growth
2000-2009

16,545 20,221 13.2%

Fiscal Conditions

Major Revenue Base

Per capita assessed value, 2008: $95,607
Per capita sales & use tax revenue, 2008: $163
Decline in sales & use tax distributions, October 2007 - May 2009: 23%

General Financial Outlook

Change in local economic conditions since June 2008:

(% of respondents)

Improved 0%

Stayed about the same 30%

Worsened 70%

Ability to meet financial needs:

(% of respondents)

Less able Same Better able

This year (FY 2009) compared with four years ago 100% 0% 0%

Next year compared with this year 56% 44% 0%

Four years from now compared with this year 78% 11% 11%

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) 40% 40% 20%

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

Offered voluntary leave without pay 0% 11% 89%

Laid off employees 11% 33% 56%

Compensation/benefit changes

Eliminated salary increases for employees 0% 22% 78%

Delayed or reduced salary increases for employees 33% 11% 56%

Reduced spending on some employee benefits (i.e. deferred compensation, health care) 22% 11% 67%

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

Required increased employee contributions for employee/family health care 33% 0% 67%

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

Have taken these steps 45%

Had not but considered likely 36%

Had not and did not consider likely 18%

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 11% 0% 11% 67% 11% 0%

Public safety spending 0% 11% 33% 56% 0% 0%

General government spending 0% 0% 22% 67% 11% 0%

Scope of services 0% 0% 22% 78% 0% 0%

Size of workforce 0% 0% 33% 67% 0% 0%

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Cluster 12