The West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Service Center located near 42nd and Alaska Street, which survived previous budget cuts as recently as last fall, is now set to close June 30, as a result of a nearly $9 million budget cut announced by Mayor Mike McGinn. Part of those cuts include reductions totaling more than $206,000 in cuts for the Department of Neighborhoods.

Acting Director of the Department of Neighborhoods Bernie Matsuno detailed the changes and cuts in a memo to staff today:

"The department was given a budget reduction target of 3% or $305,010 from the General Fund; we hoped that the actual reduction would be less, and it is – the reduction is 1.2% or $118,000. From the NMF Fund, we took a 3% reduction or $88,000. So DON’s total budget reduction is $206,000. 
 
With these reductions, there are major staffing and programmatic impacts.  We will be closing the West Seattle Neighborhood Service Center and moving operations into the Delridge facility.  Although we believe this will not impact the community significantly (the Delridge facility is less than two miles away), NPIS staffing will be.  We are losing funding for two, .5 FTE Customer Service Representatives (CSR) positions.  Losing staff is never easy; we will do everything we can to support and assist staff as they seek other employment. The West Seattle facility will close on June 30.

Other staff positions will be reduced; and all non-represented staff will be taking seven (7) furlough days (days off without pay) between now and the end of the year.  Reducing positions and furloughs will have an impact on our operations (as well as the livelihood of those involved) but again, the goal is to minimize the effect on those we serve – so furloughs will not result in closing our offices beyond what’s normal.  (…)
 
Budget reductions – no matter when they’re made – are always difficult, but the reality is that we, along with all departments, have to adjust our operations in light of the economic situation the city faces."