[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6262685,"mediaKeyId","3112065-147962958c57f39fd2fdf49ef7797347","parentId",3112065,"title","Committee forwards March financial report and vouchers amid questions on sales tax, permits and vacancies","audioSeconds",443,"startMs",1822000,"endMs",2265000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3112065-147962958c57f39fd2fdf49ef7797347&start=1822&end=2265","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3112065-147962958c57f39fd2fdf49ef7797347/thumbnail_1822000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262685/Federal-Way/King-County/Washington/Committee-forwards-March-financial-report-and-vouchers-amid-questions-on-sales-tax-permits-and-vacancies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262685-450ff78991088c791ec809704fc456ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155685&Signature=AZLgnlXoLvUmkQNp52jlkqbrGFyOZdxE5XyZ9PmZNu2CemaA0ENfG8mFYRx8UCZYTexVAs1QpGjcWCM7KH4a5naai2PcD0nstCzCKhAUdBrTgab4zKlXE5IKVHBYHRuAuS9Rl-NQgZYFHpguYVpZKhPBerqLbLqY6tiGGwQXP3sxSWBqFz6pRBVm1T0QgFjj1bvW4K3F~7IqYFVkVjs4yuC~D95T0c9o9SW-UNLYnSWj3T4IOlMd3b~WfidLNWE61Tdh-jLtbX7N4JdZNa9bW6~w2ZULT0TXxX4UYIlhn9gQkllrWbIx-Kd3uT4Z9Lti1Riin-7hJrBuXyLODhPq3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Federal Way, WA","date","2025-04-24T17:13:50.153Z","article","The Federal Way Finance and Administration Committee on April 22 forwarded the city’s March monthly financial report and the month’s accounts-payable and payroll vouchers to the May 6 consent agenda after a detailed presentation by Finance Director Jack Grooms.

Grooms told the committee that national inflation has declined for two consecutive months and reviewed city revenue lines. He said sales-tax receipts were 3% below budget but 4% above the prior year, and that permit-fee revenue was $473,000 unfavorable to budget and $330,000 under prior year. “This has got a $473,000 unfavorable variance to budget so far,” Grooms said.

Grooms and committee members discussed other revenue items: real-estate-excise tax showed an uptick in March compared with prior months, while interest revenue trailed budget because the city spent significant cash early in the year on one-time items (insurance, elections, IT licensing). Grooms noted the city’s investment yields remain elevated compared with 2024, but said forecasting remains uncertain because many revenues arrive on lags.

Council members pressed staff on staffing and operational questions. Committee members sought a snapshot of current vacancies and the potential for a hiring freeze. Grooms said the human-resources and finance teams have been rebuilding after recent departures and that the finance department had several recent promotions and hires; he and committee members agreed to convey the request for a hiring-freeze briefing to the administration.

Members also raised the status of the previously negotiated sale of the old Target property to Trent. Grooms said the development agreement is signed but the transaction has not closed and the city has not received proceeds. He noted the city used internal capital funds to cover the purchase and structured an interfund arrangement expecting proceeds from the sale; those internal payments remain on the city’s books pending a closing.

Other items discussed: the police vehicle fleet replacement cadence, timing of large permit-related cash inflows for ongoing housing developments, and the first debt payment on the operations and maintenance bond, which Grooms said is scheduled for December and is included in the budget.

Committee action: the committee moved to forward AP vouchers (March 16–April 15) and payroll vouchers (March 30–31) to the May 6 consent agenda; it also moved to forward the March monthly financial report to the May 6 consent agenda. All motions carried.

Why it matters: the report identified several unfavorable variances against the adopted budget — notably sales tax and permit fees — prompting council members to request additional forecasting, vacancy data, and options such as hiring freezes or project deferrals to manage potential shortfalls.

What’s next: staff will provide follow-up details requested by council members (vacancy snapshot, permit timing for major developments, status of Trent/Target transaction) and the forwarded items will appear on the May 6 city council consent agenda for final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/22/2025 Finance/Economic Development/Regional Affairs Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Federal Way’s committee forwarded the March monthly financial report and vouchers to the May 6 consent agenda after a lengthy review by Finance Director Jack Grooms. Members pressed staff on weaker-than-budget sales-tax and permit revenues, staffing vacancies, the Target/Trent transaction status and options including a hiring freeze.","taxTitle","Federal Way, King County, Washington","taxId",2589,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262691,"Committee forwards application for $4.1 million auto-theft task force grant; police lieutenant to be detailed and backfilled",807,596000,1403000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3112065-147962958c57f39fd2fdf49ef7797347&start=596&end=1403","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3112065-147962958c57f39fd2fdf49ef7797347/thumbnail_596000.jpg","/articles/6262691/Federal-Way/King-County/Washington/Committee-forwards-application-for-41-million-auto-theft-task-force-grant-police-lieutenant-to-be-detailed-and-backfilled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262691-68ab5da065ac1489d85dd5df33c0033b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155685&Signature=W3KwKmmKCGVlwp~MrebJIVmbDxE3buWGmPQpy~zQI5mC8~5BpPyqVqQ8tUPri1twElmLXkfgFqCUxPzjL~Giy26u0JJ7jcf-ug2lwVs7FQCgnuxD8GEsTSDORYFRMoodcnQZeq3q6NcUDPkEKnl87yStj0Q-cqrciIqUc87rb0bTKHxdrAYraPu6Jpel7~JYTgq16KZJ-wtlTfLgBHdf3X70HXrslLRu8y52tefzik2ALoviz4a1Fg8MBFoqdkWQh4kbXSLXNZwWmPuW~76addpiEshuQeP~11H2n9J38GLhKbIAzsLjgb--tp8bCd86-vxGYGsvsMl4jtFW-KhPOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Federal Way Finance and Administration Committee on April 22 voted to forward a Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA) grant application for the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force to the city council consent agenda, and separately agreed to forward the proposed backfill of a police lieutenant who will be detailed to the task force.

The committee chair, Paul McDaniel, said the police department requested authorization to apply for the WATPA grant and, if awarded, to accept it. The police chief described the application as “just over 4,000,000,” and said the request would fund a supervisor, seven detectives, a crime analyst and fiscal costs for the task force. “We have a really good chance of obtaining the grant,” the chief said, adding the task force was formed in February 2017 and has involved multiple South King and Pierce County agencies.

The police chief told the committee Federal Way has served as the fiscal agent for the task force since 2017 but is working with partner agencies to identify a new fiscal agent beginning July 1. The chief also said Federal Way is seeking to send one of its lieutenants to serve as the task force supervisor when the position rotates to the city.

Separately, the chief asked permission to promote and backfill a lieutenant position so Lieutenant Christopher Kruse can be detailed to the task force. The chief said Kruse is a subject-matter expert who trains on auto theft and VIN identification and that the lieutenant assignment would be a three-year detail. He said salary and benefits for the position would be reimbursable to Federal Way and that the city would “reimburse the cities when they send us an invoice.”

Council members asked about operational and staffing consequences: whether the detectives would become Federal Way employees (they would not), how the city would serve as a fiscal agent (the city would receive grant funds and reimburse participating jurisdictions), and how long the lieutenant detail would last (three years, with possible extensions if funding allows). The chief said the department currently reports 144 sworn hires with one vacancy and several conditional offers pending; he said hiring and academy timelines can leave temporary gaps but that the grant’s reimbursement would offset salary costs.

Committee action: the committee moved to forward the grant-application acceptance (if awarded) on behalf of the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force to the May 6, 2025 consent agenda; the motion carried. The committee likewise moved to forward the proposed backfill of the lieutenant position for the duration of the task force supervision assignment to the May 6 consent agenda; that motion also carried.

Why it matters: the grant, if awarded, would fund multiagency work targeting organized auto theft, continuing a regional task force Federal Way has hosted as fiscal agent. Detailing a Federal Way lieutenant to supervision and reimbursing wages affects department staffing and recruitment plans; committee members pressed for clarity on vacancy timing and vehicle and training impacts.

What’s next: both items will appear on the May 6 city council consent agenda for final council action. The police chief said the department can withdraw the application if the council does not approve moving forward.

","Federal Way’s committee voted to forward a Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority grant application — roughly $4.2 million — to the City Council consent agenda, and approved forwarding a plan to detail a city lieutenant to the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force with a reimbursable backfill.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee forwards March financial report and vouchers amid questions on sales tax, permits and vacancies

Committee forwards application for $4.1 million auto-theft task force grant; police lieutenant to be detailed and backfilled