Title
Public Hearing on the 2025 Preliminary Operating Budget
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Hold a public hearing and receive testimony on the 2025 Preliminary Operating Budget
Report
Issue:
Whether to hold a public hearing and receive testimony on the 2025 Preliminary Operating Budget
Staff Contact:
Joan Lutz, Budget & Fiscal Manager, Finance Department, 360.753.8760
Presenter(s):
Jay Burney, City Manager
Background and Analysis:
The City Manager discussed the 2025 Preliminary Operating Budget with the City Council on September 17, October 8, and held a Study Session on October 22, 2024. The preliminary budget incorporates feedback from those discussions. The budget maintains basic service levels and programs, includes limited enhancements in priority areas, and significant expenditure reductions in the areas of personnel, general professional services, equipment, supplies, and other areas. This public hearing provides Council an opportunity to hear testimony from the public.
The 2025 Preliminary Operating Budget includes appropriations to fund:
1. General Fund - basic core municipal services such as Administration, Engineering, Finance, Facilities, Fire, Human Resources, Information Services, Municipal Court, Legal, Parks, Planning, Police, and Transportation.
2. Debt Service Funds - debt service to support outstanding debt obligations.
3. Enterprise Funds - Drinking Water, Wastewater, Storm and Surface Water, and Waste ReSources utility operations.
4. Special (dedicated) Funds - appropriations for Inspire Olympia, Lodging Tax, Parking and Business Improvement Area, and Housing/Homeless Response programs.
5. Operating transfers between funds, including revenues collected through special revenue and utility funds that will be transferred to the capital budget to support projects.
The 2025 Preliminary Operating Budget appropriates $243,822,895 million for expenditures with a General Fund total of $113,940,427 million.
The City Council will hold an additional Public Hearing on November 12, 2024, with final Budget Balancing on November 19, 2024. Adoption of both the 2025 Operating Budget and the 2025-2030 Capital Facilities Plan is scheduled for December 10, 2024.
Climate Analysis:
No specific climate impacts are identified as a result of holding the public hearing. However, the 2025 Operating Budget contains funding to continue our Climate Work Plan.
Equity Analysis:
No specific equity impacts are identified as a result of holding the public hearing. However, the 2025 Operating Budget contains funding to continue our internal/external Equity Work Plans.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Members of the community may have an interest in this agenda item as it deals with City finances, direct delivery of services and programs, and fiscal governance.
Financial Impact:
The Preliminary 2025 Operating Budget appropriates $243.8 million with a General Fund total of $113.9 million.
Options:
1. Hold a public hearing on the Preliminary 2025 Operating Budget.
2. Do not hold a public hearing on the Preliminary 2025 Operating Budget.
3. Reschedule the public hearing to future date.
Attachments:
Presentation
2025 Preliminary Operating Budget