MARYSVILLE — The Marysville City Council approved its first budget Monday after moving to a biennial budgeting system earlier this year.
The two-year plan calls for a $128.1 million in expenditures for 2015 (of which $44.1 million is the general fund), and $109.7 million for 2016 (with a $45.1 million general fund.)
It’s a little bit below the $139 million budget for 2013, and includes a 2 percent cost-of-living increase for most city staff, from department heads on down.
The more significant drop-off in funds between 2015 and 2016 reflects front-loading a number of capital projects into that first year.
“You tend to think of the two-year plan in terms of what you think you can get done,” said Gloria Hirashima, the city’s chief administrative officer.
“I think we’re optimistic that we can get it done that first year,” she said.
The Utility Construction fund, for example, is listed as an $8.2 million line item in 2015, dropping to $3.6 million in 2016. The Utility Debt Service fund starts at $10.2 million and drops to $5.3 million in 2016.
That reflects a couple of projects, including the construction of the Whiskey Ridge sewer pumping station and the Sunnyside well treatment project, scheduled to start up in earnest this year.
The Parks Capital Improvements budget reflects projects starting up or continuing in 2015, including the extension of the Qwuloolt and Bayview trails.
That budget is set at $921,386 for 2015, dropping to $146,987 the next year.
If the projects aren’t completed in 2015, they will be continued in the following year, with the corresponding budgeted funds rolled over, Hirashima said.
The salary increases for the city include those represented by the Marysville Police Officers Association as well as staff not represented by a union, such as managers and department heads.
The Teamsters union, which represents some public works and office staff, is still in negotiations with the city on a new contract, so those positions’ salaries were not adjusted.
The city contracts with Snohomish County Fire District 12 for fire services, and those employees of the Marysville Fire Department are not city employees.
Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.
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