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Council Appropriates $82,000 to Cover Local 25 Benefits After Budgeting Error, Some Members Seek Account Reconciliation
Summary
The council approved an $82,000 appropriation to move Local 25 union benefit costs into the correct HR benefits line after the administration said the expenses were wrongly attributed to employee withholdings; several councilors requested verification of whether payments were already made and sought accounting reconciliation.
The Everett City Council approved an $82,000 appropriation from free cash to fund Local 25 union benefits after staff told the council the FY25 budget had not properly budgeted the line item.
Chief of Staff Erin Deveney explained the city had intended the costs to be budgeted in the HR department’s benefits line but that, under the prior budget practice, the costs had been recorded against employee withholdings. Deveney said the request corrects that accounting practice and will ensure the expenditures are paid from the proper budget line.
Councilors pressed for records showing whether payments were already made from withholdings and asked for a transfer or reconciliation if the payments had already been processed. Councilor Smith said she could support $37,000 for dental benefits but withheld the remainder pending confirmation of whether funds already moved between accounts.
After discussion and a request that administration verify account transfers and any payments already made, the council held a roll call and approved the appropriation; the clerk recorded the final roll call as eight yeas and three nays. The council asked administration to report back with precise accounting of any transfers or payments that had already occurred so the council could confirm no duplicative payments would be made.
