Mountlake Terrace Council debates $100K budget consultant amid financial crisis concerns

The Mountlake Terrace City Council held a work session on February 13, 2025, focusing on the city's financial challenges and the potential hiring of a consultant to assist with budget management. The discussion highlighted concerns about the city's financial stability and the appropriateness of spending $100,000 on external expertise.

Council Member Sonmore expressed skepticism about the need for a consultant, arguing that the city already has staff capable of managing the budget. She emphasized the importance of community involvement in financial decisions and questioned the effectiveness of a small committee to represent public interests. Sonmore raised concerns about the optics of spending such a significant amount on consulting services when the city is facing budget deficits.

In response, other council members defended the proposal, stating that the consultant would provide valuable expertise and facilitate community engagement in the budgeting process. They argued that the city lacks the capacity to handle the complex financial issues alone and that the consultant's role would be to guide the council and staff in making informed decisions.

The council acknowledged the urgency of addressing the financial crisis, with some members drawing parallels to the struggles faced by neighboring cities. They discussed the need for a comprehensive approach to budgeting that includes potential revenue increases and service cuts, emphasizing the importance of public input in these decisions.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to revisit the consultant proposal in a future session, allowing for further discussion and community outreach to explain the rationale behind the expenditure. The council aims to ensure transparency and engage residents in the budgeting process as they navigate the city's financial challenges.