MARYSVILLE — Despite the largest addition of territory and residents in the city’s history, Marysville’s operating budget for 2010 will be smaller than its budget for 2009.
The $34.1 million operating budget for next year is a 2 percent drop from what the city expects to spend by the end of 2009.
The fact that the city completed some projects this year, such as the $12 million project to widen State Avenue from 136th Street NE to 152nd Street NE, accounts for most of the difference, Mayor Dennis Kendall said.
The operating budget includes $3.9 million to pay for services in neighborhoods east of State Avenue, home to nearly 20,000 people. The expense will be covered by a tax rebate from the state for adding 10,000 people or more.
The city’s overall $118.3 million budget for next year was adopted by the City Council on Monday. Unlike many other cities, it has its own water, sewer, surface water and garbage utilities, along with Cedarcrest Golf Course. Much of the budget is wrapped up in running these departments, while the operating budget includes funds for the day-to-day running of city departments such as the police, planning and administration.
The city is also making some small cutbacks, such as postponing purchases of new vehicles and no longer allowing police officers to take squad cars home, Kendall said.
The city dipped into its reserves for close to $1 million, which required a supermajority vote of the City Council. The reserve fund dropped from 8 percent of its budget to 5 percent, the mayor said.
The city’s street fund, which pays for road maintenance, has been depleted due to decreased revenue from the gas tax and sales tax and past voter-approved initiatives, Kendall said.
It’s not certain how it will be replenished or what the city will do to cover repaving or repair projects in the near future, he said.
“I will be encouraging (the City Council) to take a look at all available funding sources to replenish this fund,” Kendall said in his budget message.
The annexation takes effect Dec. 30, The annexation will bump the city’s population from 37,060 to around 57,000, making it the second largest city in Snohomish County behind Everett’s 103,500.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
