Washougal mayor plans to freeze wages
The Washougal City Council will soon be asked to freeze the salaries of all of the city's non-represented employees, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Mayor Sean Guard is also requesting two of the city's employee unions reopen their collective bargaining contracts a year early. His announcement is in response to growing deficits in the city's general fund, resulting from rising employee costs and diminished revenues. The initial projected deficits for 2011, 2012 and 2013 - as forecast in July this year - were $1.3 million, $1.45 million and $1.6 million. The projections have decreased due to cost reduction measures, and additional reductions are being identified as part of the 2011 budget process.