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Wildwood officials weigh options after state veto; $300,000 budgeted for watershed work
Summary
After the governor line-item vetoed requested mitigation funding, city officials said $300,000 remains budgeted for fiscal 2025 and asked council to prioritize projects or identify alternative funding sources; council directed staff to return next month with a report on what can be done with the funds.
City staff told the council the governor vetoed the city's requested line-item funding for watershed erosion mitigation, leaving the city with $300,000 budgeted for fiscal year 2025 and a choice about which projects to pursue.
Why it matters: Wildwood has several erosion and stormwater projects in development (Evergreen Forest Creek restoration, the Highlands project, Cox Creek basins, and a Stormwater Management Master Plan). The veto reduced expected outside funding and forced councilmembers to consider prioritizing projects and identifying alternative funding sources.
What staff reported
A staff presentation explained the governor line-item vetoed the city's mitigation funding request; staff said, "it left us with 300,000 that we do have budgeted for fiscal year 2025." The administration explained they had offered a stronger local match this cycle and still did not receive funding. Staff recommended prioritizing a single project to make shovel-ready designs and to position applications for other grants or local matches.
Council discussion and concerns
Council and task-force members discussed alternatives including focusing on engineering and design to make projects shovel-ready, pursuing grants, or considering internal funding mechanisms. Councilmembers raised the idea of a city-wide fee for watershed maintenance (described by one member as preferable to the word "tax") and asked staff to return with options as the city approaches the budget cycle.
Two key directions from the meeting
1) Council asked staff to return next month with a report that lays out what can practically be completed with the $300,000 already budgeted (a motion by Council member Marshall, seconded by Council member Dodwell passed).
2) Staff and the watershed task force will continue exploring alternative funding approaches (grants, MSD collaboration, local fees) and prepare a priority scoring matrix to identify which project should be advanced first.
Context and background
Staff noted the city had repeatedly reduced the state's requested amount in prior years and even offered a 100% local match this cycle, but the governor vetoed the request. Some mitigation projects are on MSD's calendar for future years (Evergreen scheduled in MSD plans for 2026; Highlands later), which complicates city timing.
The council emphasized that recurring maintenance and capital needs for watershed and parks will require a stable revenue source if the city intends to carry out multiple projects over time.
