YFS faces deficit by 2016, will prioritize services | City briefs

Published 10:09 am Tuesday, February 10, 2015

YFS faces deficit by 2016, will prioritize services

Mercer Island Youth and Family Services is undergoing a 2015 planning process internally and with community stakeholders to prioritize services and to explore funding options, including service level reductions, as the department is facing a funding deficit in 2016.

At its Nov. 17 meeting, the City Council decided to increase the General Fund support of the Youth & Family Services (YFS) Fund from $300,000 to $350,000 per year in 2015-2016.

This is funded by property tax “new construction,” which is greater than originally projected, said Finance Director Chip Corder. The YFS fund, facing a $260,000 deficit in the preliminary budget discussions, is now projected to go into the red in 2016 by $160,000.

The YFS Fund encompasses Thrift Shop operations, school counseling, family counseling, Communities That Care, senior outreach, VOICE, Jobline and emergency assistance, Corder said. The projected deficit is primarily due to a leveling off of Thrift Shop annual sales growth.

In addition, General Fund support of the YFS Fund was reduced significantly from 2010 to 2014 due to the recession’s impact, and School District financial support for school-based counselors dropped from covering 50 percent of the cost for six of the seven counselors to a fixed sum of $60,000 per year beginning in 2010.

Time to sign up for camp at MI Parks and Rec

Mercer Island Parks and Recreation summer day camp registration started Feb. 7. There are wide variety of summer camps, offering activities including art, cooking, Legos, kayaking, music, sailing, sports and day camps for ages three and up.

Register by phone for Mini Mercer, Mercer Day Camp or Mini Mercer Sports between Feb. 7-20 and receive $20 off a first camp, and entry into a drawing to get half off a second camp. View the camp brochure at www.playonmercer.com.

Registration for these promoted camps is by phone only at 206-275-7609. Register for all other camps online, or by phone.

City offices, schools closed on Monday, Jan. 16

City offices will be closed on Monday. Feb. 16 for President’s Day.  Public schools are also closed, as are state and federal government offices and services.

The regular meeting of the City Council, scheduled for Feb. 16, was moved to Feb. 23.