LAKE STEVENS — The proposed city budget for 2017 sets aside money to add employees and get started on major construction projects.
The first public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at 12309 22nd St. NE. The City Council also needs to decide whether to pass an ordinance of substantial need. That would allow the city to levy a 1 percent property tax increase, the maximum allowed under state law.
Without the increase, the city’s levy rate is expected to be $1.35 per $1,000 assessed valued, or about $405 on a $300,000 home. With the substantial need request, it would increase a tenth of a cent per $1,000. That would amount to about 30 cents more a year on a $300,000 home.
Officials also have proposed a new Transportation Benefit District. That would mean a new $20 fee for drivers when they renew their car tabs.
The district would need to be approved by the council sometime in 2017 and would not take effect right away. However, money from the proposed fee is included in the draft city budget. The fees would generate about $435,000 per year, but likely half of that in 2017 since it would take time to establish the district, finance director Barb Stevens said. The money would go toward road projects such as new sidewalks and intersection improvements.
The city expects to bring in about $15 million for the 2017 general fund and spend about $16.7 million. That’s roughly 20 percent higher than 2016 general fund expenditures, which are expected to total about $13.7 million by the end of the year.
The general fund, which supports city services such as police and planning, is part of an overall $31.4 million proposed city budget.
In a budget message, Mayor John Spencer said Lake Stevens is in “an environment of unprecedented growth.” Looking at the last five years, the city has seen more than a 10 percent climb in population. Leaders are working on plans to annex the rest of Lake Stevens’ urban growth area, which would add several thousand people to the city.
The challenge presented by the 2017 budget is catching up with lingering needs from the recession and expanding city services fast enough to keep up with growth, Spencer wrote.
The budget proposes adding at least six new positions. Two would be within the police department: a traffic control officer and an administrative supervisor. An engineer and two crew members would be added in public works, along with a project administrator who would work with multiple city departments.
Law enforcement makes up nearly 40 percent of the general fund.
The City Council earlier this year voted to authorize the purchase of body cameras for the police department. Cameras were tested but not purchased. The police chief has asked to postpone the program so more research can be done on the costs of retaining, redacting and making available video records under state public records laws. Money for the body cameras is not included in the proposed 2017 budget.
City leaders also are looking ahead to four major projects: the construction of a new city hall and police station; the development of Cavelero Park; removing the city buildings from North Cove Park; and removing a broken aerator from the lake.
Full cost estimates for the projects are not complete, but $1 million has been earmarked to start work on removing city buildings from North Cove and setting up a temporary City Hall.
Other local projects planned for next year include a roundabout at 91st Avenue NE and Market Place and fixing Callow Road where the bank has given way. Spearheading regional efforts to alleviate traffic on Highway 9, Highway 204, 20th Street SE and the Trestle are part of the city’s plans, as well.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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