Schools, City to meet Oct. 16 on YFS funding issues

Published 2:18 pm Tuesday, October 14, 2014

The Mercer Island School District Board of Directors and City Council will discuss the Youth & Family Services (YFS) Healthy Youth Initiative and funding at a joint meeting on Thursday, Oct. 16.

When presenting the 2015-16 city budget, Finance Director Chip Corder said YFS is facing a $196,000 deficit at the end of 2016. A community conversation about the services provided by the department is planned for next year.

“We are working on maintaining our workforce and our programs,” said YFS Director Cindy Goodwin, noting that expenditures are staying the same or growing.

This summer, YFS helped form a Healthy Youth Initiative task force, composed of Island parents and professionals, to look at the causes of underage drinking and drug use.

The group’s findings will be presented at the meeting on Thursday.

The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 16 in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Other topics of discussion include alternative fuels for school buses, the community solar project and a ‘boil water’ advisory debrief.