Sammamish mayor says council cut $8.9M from budget and passed utility tax; city to pursue voter measure

Mayor Karen Howe said the Sammamish City Council reduced the biennial budget by $8,900,000 and recently enacted a utility tax as part of a three-pronged plan to restore long-term fiscal sustainability.

The council’s actions, Howe said in opening remarks at Sammamish City Hall, followed recommendations from the city’s fiscal sustainability task force and were designed to ensure the city can continue delivering services such as parks, public works and stormwater management. "This is why the staff cut $8,900,000 from the budget," Howe said. "Just last month, the council implemented the task force second recommendation and passed utility tax."

Howe described the measures as part of a partnership among the city, the council and voters to stabilize the city’s finances and said city staff and council will work with the community to develop a voter measure in coming years. She acknowledged disagreement in the community over those choices and encouraged residents to engage in the process. "I encourage everyone to be part of this conversation to work with the council and staff to identify a truly Sammamish package to put forth for voters' consideration," Howe said.

The mayor credited staff and the task force with producing a multi-element plan and emphasized the city’s intent to maintain existing service levels while addressing rising costs. She did not provide details on the utility tax rate, ordinance number, or the specific services affected by the budget cuts.

Howe also urged residents to direct input to the council and noted that the council reads emails and public comment, but she did not provide a timeline for when a ballot measure would be finalized or sent to voters.

Details about vote tallies, ordinance language, and which budget line items comprised the $8.9 million reduction were not specified in the remarks.