[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",5967091,"mediaKeyId","5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83","parentId",5880942,"title","City administrator warns of possible bankruptcy as council begins 2026 budget process","audioSeconds",1395,"startMs",1097000,"endMs",2492000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83&start=1097&end=2492","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5967091/Aberdeen/Grays-Harbor-County/Washington/City-administrator-warns-of-possible-bankruptcy-as-council-begins-2026-budget-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5967091-e17e1fcfd21e28cbf42be335c634e742/orig.mp4?Expires=1776625785&Signature=eGdpVoDCThaUu~8ZjVg6kZtAxSYjJHkBgIwQ~PtqJkiSaYUzmfCqE33HfaFek8pn6rmdpulToVxcjy10~nXPg6SBL1hdPENqqSKQVUKiB~pKt7eIgJe8HhsdlQrMompNzygW9rB2LoEohvw-z1i7tAn67yncITThIaMtE0ZxvGcX9yROVYn5ZLXuJEcOEH6bESpFVRhDfCTb1bib3T~m9BEPqfnEi6Yg8-JdTF2rNsU98FiJls2JvgkaH~Ee2rp09HPDb2L9OscTD9dz0cybV8Jc60-VunjR9sucVhtpcF3MaWgniRNiwxs7tU1gqdW66chd8LmeosXglxCeiIMHvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Aberdeen, WA","date","2025-09-30T19:35:36Z","article","City staff presented preliminary revenue estimates for the 2026 budget and the city administrator told the council that staff reductions and other cuts will likely be needed to stabilize Aberdeen’s finances.

Tara Denver, contract CPA, walked the council through preliminary general-fund revenue projections, saying the budget projects an approximate 2.6% increase — about $557,000 — over the 2025 budget but noted a slight decrease when comparing 2025 actuals to 2026 projections. Denver cautioned that much of the higher sales-tax receipts in 2025 are tied to construction and may not reflect sustained retail growth.

The city administrator told the council that the city has historically spent more than it has brought in, has drawn down reserves, and “we will possibly look into bankruptcy in about 5 years” if corrective steps are not taken. The administrator and Denver said the proposed 2026 budget will reflect necessary cuts to move toward solvency.

Key figures summarized at the meeting: staff projected roughly $556,000 in additional general-fund revenue for 2026; the 2025 general-fund budget included an $800,000 deficit that has been covered by reserves and transfers; and 9-1-1 call volume increases will raise monthly costs to approximately $27,655 per month in 2026. Denver also noted that grant revenue is expected to increase by about $150,000 for a state-funded police officer through 2027 and that interest revenue assumptions were reduced in the projection.

Council members and staff emphasized that projected revenue increases will not cover cost-of-living adjustments or potential medical insurance increases and that the administration will return a preliminary budget and updated revenue estimates in October with any revisions. The administration said it will present full revenue estimates for all funds at the second meeting in October alongside the mayor’s preliminary budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Aberdeen City Council Meeting 9-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented preliminary 2026 revenue projections showing a modest increase but not enough to close a prior deficit; the city administrator said staff reductions are under consideration to stabilize finances and warned the city could face insolvency in about five years if current trends continue.","taxTitle","Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington","taxId",71677,"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},5967096,"Council approves $450,000 RCO grant for artificial turf; members press for non-crumb-rubber options",1618,1320000,2938000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83&start=1320&end=2938","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83/thumbnail_1320000.jpg","/articles/5967096/Aberdeen/Grays-Harbor-County/Washington/Council-approves-450000-RCO-grant-for-artificial-turf-members-press-for-non-crumb-rubber-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5967096-7a52cee8f7531d4892f038c2be9ef047/orig.mp4?Expires=1776625785&Signature=ojPW-NvpVJaTMh8rkQua-v9P4QwOey5EEHSBiJ4hDLRRtp0YvcHTY5pHLVFx89uCnEvPMmX4C2dWApydjuP2mJ8~BCJ5s9sa403Es9e9rjO7HoSNI4fjGEk-sA0QUnLCN4QFbp6MY483it7eq6tjotO1L7hjJdPqKAsdgd-YUL4h4pfjRs5vU59yk9R2izVLiSlcGZfuJ6PNMYwo55PTrslIam-iRVnlPqW1xy7qesp5iYNW0E3s-9J9PDiWupBYl~mC27vacB-Vw-2Twm9TakYtlKr8LYEQHVvV-7rDkkVy3zajP9uUUnpVUR9u4ZnTTzavXPG6BJpuvMB~YdBZ3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Aberdeen City Council voted to authorize the mayor to sign an agreement with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office to accept a $450,000 grant for artificial turf at the Pioneer ballfield project and amended the committee report to correct the local match to $58,000.

The vote followed questions from council members and public commenters about product safety and longevity. Stacy Barnum, Parks Director, told the council that the match is $58,000 and that “I am confident that Austin has identified all funding sources needed to cover the $58,000 match,” and that public works will help with design and site prep. Barnum said the city will include specifications in the request for proposals and review vendor products before awarding a contract.

Why the decision matters: the grant will cover most of the field installation, but council members and residents raised health and environmental concerns about some artificial-turf infill products. Multiple speakers urged the city to require alternatives to crumb rubber or other plastics when the request for proposals is issued.

Council discussion centered on procurement timing and binding language. One member said the council’s current vote authorizes the mayor to sign the grant agreement but does not itself bind the city to accept a specific turf product; the member urged that the council reserve product stipulations for the RFP or the future contract review. Council members then voted to adopt an amendment clarifying the corrected match amount and proceeded toward approval of the mayor’s signing authority.

Council and staff next steps include issuing an RFP with product specifications, evaluating vendor proposals for alternatives to crumb rubber, and returning the selected bid and contract to the council for approval. Barnum said the city will narrow proposals to a short list of vendors and bring the contract back to council for review before final award.

Public reaction at the meeting emphasized both support for improved recreation facilities and strong reservations about microplastics and long-term disposal. The council’s amendment to the committee report and the staff pledge to include product specifications in the solicitation respond directly to those concerns.","The Aberdeen City Council authorized the mayor to accept a $450,000 Recreation and Conservation Office grant for artificial turf at a Pioneer ballfield, corrected the local match to $58,000 and debated material specifications after public concern about microplastics and PFAS.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5967085,"Council authorizes lease of Live View mobile surveillance unit after successful trial; city to explore purchase and partnerships",481,3753000,4234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83&start=3753&end=4234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83/thumbnail_3753000.jpg","/articles/5967085/Aberdeen/Grays-Harbor-County/Washington/Council-authorizes-lease-of-Live-View-mobile-surveillance-unit-after-successful-trial-city-to-explore-purchase-and-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5967085-0220295f8f48e0e641b41302b8e4c992/orig.mp4?Expires=1776625785&Signature=EzAlfpzAz6zh7rv5unFguBfDauYnWNfSUB96yonqvLjC0x9YMCXuwl6TI2vQJj0iJMdYhag3IJzqJ~MCB0lUTVIJkSt~1jtB5vbqAfKP-ZXBKqd3uJ0X4OzPm3IyxJYs8-Zk~h69s4s3hqDAABKq6KBmuGqEWp-Cqrrmw5e8RptsKLFYikGro~iu0xE6XY59LEbWSuTHwb1d4Pp5EL6uSKRST7mtwFuu4LCXlIdC2ypAiSRJTDJiinFL97jcJan~w~EzrAtEKOYj7KkXx03JhV-KBbeKISYIHzLoI-jbuUopz2xZEM3rT5-dbvfcfC8RsD3DKWe1JFBnudQBHekPZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Aberdeen City Council authorized the mayor to enter an agreement to lease a Live View Technologies mobile surveillance unit following a 30-day pilot that council members and business owners said reduced nuisance activity in target locations.

Councilor Bear Jean, Public Safety Committee chair, described the unit as the device that had been parked in a Safeway parking lot and said staff and business owners reported immediate reductions in problematic activity. Staff told the council the unit’s lease and operational costs were budgeted from current-year vacancies; the council discussed options to purchase the unit if the city wished to keep it long term.

Staff noted a purchase option of about $55,000 and a relocation or camera-reset fee of roughly $4,000 if the unit is moved and vendor personnel must reconfigure the system. The council also discussed potential partnerships: Quinault Enterprises and regional partners had already expressed interest in acquiring similar units for their properties, and a councilmember suggested pursuing grant funding or contributions from local businesses to offset purchase or lease costs.

Council members said the unit acts as both a deterrent and an evidence-collection tool for police. The motion to authorize mayoral signature on the lease agreement passed and staff were directed to explore purchase options and potential grant or business partnerships that could fund a long-term acquisition.","After a 30-day trial, Aberdeen’s council authorized the mayor to lease a Live View Technologies mobile surveillance unit to deter activity in problem areas. Council discussed costs, relocation fees and potential business or grant partnerships to cover longer-term purchase.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5967087,"Council adopts resolution raising ambulance fees to 100% cost recovery after council debate",676,3068000,3744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83&start=3068&end=3744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83/thumbnail_3068000.jpg","/articles/5967087/Aberdeen/Grays-Harbor-County/Washington/Council-adopts-resolution-raising-ambulance-fees-to-100-cost-recovery-after-council-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5967087-9e6365e1732e89bd96ec06faae0102c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776625785&Signature=dUUaHcfP2Yy5ip7Y8OdBOU70vQ55a2FpT0Ho-GB3ASKcSjqa3EF7k9xW7xy1Tr9wqtdDF206qDe2MnkjAxxmMM6n9zFDozUc7Vg-HwFWCeLwDo5N1aCb39uUBGM2Evdc7zSHEOXwhLaPbx4A-Z~-aha2QK55wAmjbG6uu7upraeeyvBzwTuL5L~plum2k9khTh44YWOd4ZAdC6DYlQp4lDwv0m-aQwdXx~Jk6J2aGPYNAUugWPclKCY3-KyTt0HXBiNCg54Wt9~FfM9nmfd~Mkg7bmA2xK9iYcr7GTPkeolGvieTIs8SiSpDQcRfH9MiDHDr0rfbbwjF4W0mKCmzQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Aberdeen City Council approved a resolution updating ambulance and emergency-services fees to increase recovery toward the full cost of service, citing a cost-of-service study that staff said justifies the change.

Councilmembers expressed split views. Councilperson Morris said she could not support an immediate full cost-recovery approach on conscience grounds because it would be difficult for many residents to afford. Another councilmember suggested staggering increases, but staff said the approved rate schedule follows the cost-of-service study and would be easier to defend administratively and legally. Chief Golding and staff explained that the study established rates that staff characterized as justifiable and defensible.

The proposed change updates the city’s ambulance fee schedule as allowed in the municipal code (cited in the meeting as AMC 13 80 0 9 0 and 138110). Several councilmembers urged caution about immediate impacts on residents and favored options such as discounts for eligible households; staff noted an existing discount program residents may apply for but said the study’s recommended rates would be the defensible baseline.

Council members voting in favor said the measure is a difficult but necessary step to stabilize city finances and to allow continued delivery of emergency medical services. Supporters warned that rejecting the change would leave the city to carry growing costs and could accelerate other cuts recommended elsewhere in the budget process. The resolution was approved by the council and will be implemented according to the municipal schedule.","The city council approved a resolution updating ambulance and emergency services fees to move toward 100% cost recovery, prompting debate over staggered increases and concern about impacts on low-income residents.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5967077,"Residents urge council to retain animal control, parking enforcement positions during budget review",379,156000,535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83&start=156&end=535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5880942-a5acaf756eb489dd35730ced9253af83/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/5967077/Aberdeen/Grays-Harbor-County/Washington/Residents-urge-council-to-retain-animal-control-parking-enforcement-positions-during-budget-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5967077-84b7bca77a696e255c4804e7911665e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776625785&Signature=dpqEpMRwGXuCb6JOMZGJuzdkrDL5K2vRF62HQlt7hHfOnPIyFLiu49HcuGie8IfsZHgM9g0E6xdpsjbDNcJLWtadXLWji15HVQbPEfSlaqCzXGk3vFjUs09DFDKPA9FLlA3bbVSHZZau-MpIfy67U5tUV-NiJ~Q~uea~QFbu8W9V1tfonOP7Vn7Pwgoux0hEegpSdVNpEdMIvlpzfzm4mNBASVw311Hz~TgBL5mH85CA2ZbQqLjG1p7biLYLnOuZPLVRRdNdkYHfOsqZC425a-Xb66Rt022qUujwQ91s9EwPw7jOptLXSIpO8L8vGhWSSJTGNoPhXzxsujoZe3Bi~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents addressed the council during public comment to urge officials not to eliminate animal-control and parking-enforcement positions that city staff had identified as potential cuts in a police-department budget recommendation.

One resident who identified herself as Lady (first name only in the record) described 20 years of experience working with the department and asked the council to consider the wider community impact of removing those functions. She said the positions “are not just numbers in a spreadsheet; they affect real people, services and the quality of life in our community” and specifically named three employees she said should be retained.

Doreen Perez spoke on behalf of George Welch, the city’s parking-enforcement officer, saying Welch has more than 25 years of service and is the city’s only person in that role. Perez warned that eliminating parking enforcement would leave abandoned and illegally parked vehicles unchecked, could harm storefront businesses, reduce city revenue and draw police officers away from urgent calls.

Other public commenters thanked the council for street-safety improvements and raised unrelated items, but the record shows consistent resident requests that council and staff explore alternatives to cutting these positions and to prioritize other budget adjustments before eliminating the enforcement roles.

There was no formal council action during public comment; council members heard the appeals and staff noted that the 2026 budget will include recommended cuts and personnel decisions as part of broader measures to balance the budget.","Public commenters asked the Aberdeen City Council not to eliminate animal control and parking enforcement positions during the city's budget review, citing safety, downtown business impacts and decades of service by named employees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City administrator warns of possible bankruptcy as council begins 2026 budget process

Council approves $450,000 RCO grant for artificial turf; members press for non-crumb-rubber options

Council authorizes lease of Live View mobile surveillance unit after successful trial; city to explore purchase and partnerships

Council adopts resolution raising ambulance fees to 100% cost recovery after council debate

Residents urge council to retain animal control, parking enforcement positions during budget review