OLYMPIA – Olympia police officer Amy King spends just about every school day at Olympia High School.

She’s one of two school resource officers who walk the city’s high schools, teaching classes, interacting with students and being available to respond to any crisis immediately.

“I know this building,” she said while making her rounds at the school Friday. “I know where all the rooms are. I know what keys open what.”

Olympia officers no longer will be assigned to the schools next year if the Olympia City Council approves about $4 million in proposed budget cuts. King said she would return to working as a patrol officer, responding to a school only if she’s called.

City Manager Steve Hall delivered his proposed $97.3 million budget for 2010 on Monday; it would eliminate jobs, slash funding to outside agencies such as those that provide social services, and reorganize city government to reflect reduced tax revenue.

Hall told 14 employees Monday that they likely will lose their jobs in the beginning of next year; the equivalent of nearly 28 positions could be eliminated. Public works would be the hardest-hit, losing eight positions. Parks would lose 6.5 positions, police 6.4 positions, general government 2.5 and the municipal court two. Some of the positions are vacant.

Hall’s proposal is not final; the Olympia City Council will have the last word on budget cuts Dec. 15 at its last meeting of the year. Residents can tell the council what they think at a public hearing at the council’s next meeting, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Council Chambers, 900 Plum St. S.E.

The council usually adopts most of Hall’s recommendations. If the council restores one of Hall’s proposed cuts, it will have to cut something else or find a new source of funding.

Nearly every facet of city government, and most funding to outside agencies, would be cut next year. A breakdown:

 • Besides the school officer program, the police department’s downtown walking patrol would end, saving $10,000.

 • The number of beds at the city jail would be reduced, saving $205,000.

 • Arts and Events funding would be cut by $112,164, including the Ethnic Celebration and Stories in the Park.

These cuts are but a sample, and no one knows whether the situation will get significantly better next year.

“I wish I could be optimistic about the revenue outlook, but I cannot,” Hall wrote in a letter included in his proposed budget. “I do believe the revenue free-fall has ended; however, the recovery will be very slow.”

EFFECTS ON POLICE, COURT

Ending the school resource officer program would eliminate the personal connection that police officers have with students, King said. Officers currently are part of the fabric of school life and can help with routine matters, she said.

One officer is assigned to Olympia High School; the other is assigned to Capital High School, King said. She also spends some time in middle and elementary schools.

Olympia School District spokesman Peter Rex estimates that police officers have been based in Olympia schools for about a decade. Their presence first was funded by a grant, but it evolved into a funding partnership between the schools and police, Rex said. He said the district is paying $78,000 for the two officers for a school year. It costs the city $187,000 this year.

“We don’t have a backup plan at this point,” Rex said.

“It’s still pretty new news to us, but it is something that has had great value for keeping our campuses safe.” He said there will be discussions about the program’s future.

Losing the in-school officers is one of the more visible effects of the proposed budget, but other police services also will be cut.

A total of $321,483 would be cut out of the budget. The Special Operations Bureau, including traffic and walking patrol special units, would be cut. There would be a $49,120 reduction in warrants and evidence processing.

Legal help for victims would be scaled down, and a victim-assistance position would be lost.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Nonprofit agencies that care for the most vulnerable also would take a big hit. Hall proposes cutting $170,000 in funding for projects recommended by the Human Services Review Council. The council is an advisory group – made up of representatives from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County – that reviews and recommends social service funding by the local governments.

Each year, each jurisdiction votes on whether to fund a portion of the recommended agencies. Last year, Olympia funded 61 percent of all projects. Twelve agencies – most based in Olympia – received $170,000 from the city. They range from feeding the homeless at Catholic Community Services to low-income housing at Evergreen Vista Apartments and care for youths in crisis at Community Youth Services.

Wendy Tanner, chief operating officer for Community Youth Services, is worried. Rosie’s Place, which provides a drop-in center and case management for youths, received $12,186. Haven House, which provides crisis housing for youths, received $13,405 for this year. Cuts are difficult because the programs are so staff-intensive, she said.

“It’s like an emergency room,” said Tanner, who also sits on the Human Services Review Council. “You have to have a certain level of staffing.”

Mary Segawa, executive director of Together, said losing HSRC-recommended funding could result in eliminating a summer program for students and cutting back on after-school and low-income housing programs.

“We recognize everybody has tough decisions to make,” she said, “but I think we also have to look long term.”

City Councilwoman Rhenda Strub, who also sits on the Human Services Review Council, said she opposes the cut.

“I want to find money to continue to fund HSRC,” she said. “I don’t know yet where it might come from.”

There’s also real doubt about whether the review council can continue.

Thurston County, which funded $112,000 in HSRC projects in 2008, pulled out all funding for 2009 because of its own financial crisis. That leaves only Lacey and Tumwater, provided that funding continues when their budgets are passed this year.

Strub wants the review council to continue, but she’s worried.

“I think Olympia has done its part and then some to maintain this interjurisdictional solution to social service problems,” she said. “I don’t know that we can continue to carry the load.”

OTHER CUTS

There will be less street sweeping and parks maintenance if Hall’s budget is approved. Responses to records requests will take longer. Graffiti abatement and some cleanup work will shift to volunteers.

Other effects have ramifications beyond Olympia. The city proposes pulling funding for yearly maintenance at the Amtrak station in Lacey, a task it shares with seven other jurisdictions. This year, Olympia gave $9,109 toward the $58,727 maintenance bill.

Transit advocates are concerned about Olympia’s apparent attempt to get out of an interjurisdictional agreement to fund the station, which was built by volunteers and belongs to Intercity Transit. It is billed as the only volunteer-staffed train station in the nation.

“This is a concern,” said Mike Harbour, general manager of Intercity Transit.

Matt Batcheldor: 360-704-6869

mbatcheldor@theolympian.com