MILL CREEK — The city is spending more money than it’s bringing in and officials want you to tell them what to do about it.
They’re in the midst of putting together a plan that’s intended to guide city leaders as they make tough choices that will shape the future of Mill Creek.
Some of those choices include whether the city should bump up taxes, invest in a major development project or issue bonds to pay for big-ticket items such as a new police station.
“We think of this as our future road map,” said Steve Butler, Mill Creek’s community development director.
They really do want to hear from you. They’ve already held multiple public forums, approached people at festivals and paid for a telephone survey. They’ve even asked people to submit photos of things they love about Mill Creek.
The next opportunity to weigh in is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Council Chambers at City Hall, 15728 Main St. It’s an open house; the public is welcome to come by.
What the city has learned so far is that people living in Mill Creek would like to avoid cutting city services, senior planner Camille Chriest said. They love the livability and character of Mill Creek, particularly its parks. They also wish there were more local jobs.
Mill Creek was toodling along just fine financially, even spending nearly $1 million less than it collected in 2008. Then the economy blew apart.
Expenses have continued to climb, but revenue hasn’t kept pace. This year, officials expect to spend $10.5 million to run Mill Creek. Revenue is projected to come in half a million dollars less.
To make up the difference, the city made cuts, including two layoffs. City leaders also drew money from reserves. In the past three years, they’ve pulled out a total of a half million dollars.
As Butler pointed out, the city has a healthy reserve fund, now at around $4.6 million. That’s about five times more than the amount dictated by city policy.
“As we move forward we want to ensure we are on a strong and safe fiscal path so it doesn’t get any more serious than it already is,” Butler said. “We want to have a healthy level of reserves.”
City leaders also are grappling with other challenges, such as the increasing costs of contracted fire service, and paying for road improvements.
The plan is still a draft. Some of the ideas on the table include:
• raising property taxes from 1 percent to 5 percent;
• adopting a $20 per vehicle charge on license renewals to pay for road improvements;
• investing in a development project called East Gateway Urban Village off 132nd Street that might eventually bring additional sales and property tax dollars;
• adding a utility tax and a local business and occupation tax;
• or allowing the city to enter into sponsorship agreements with private companies.
The plan is about more than ways to create revenue. It also addresses important issues such as annexation and economic development.
City leaders realized they were dealing with a lot of difficult issues, Butler said. The City Council wanted to address those issues in a comprehensive manner, he said.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Jump in
Find a draft of the plan and more information about the process online at www.millcreek-plan.org/
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
