Vicki Carlson, Sammamish’s finance director, gave the council a first‑quarter financial update July 15 covering the opening months of the 2025–26 biennium. Carlson said the quarter is light on information by design but is in line with expectations: general‑fund revenues and expenditures through March track to plan.

Carlson emphasized the report’s interim nature and listed several upcoming improvements to city financial reporting, including a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system expected next year, additional department‑level revenue coding, and reporting of encumbrances so contractual commitments are clearer.

Notable figures presented to council included: property tax revenue (63 percent of general‑fund budget) and timing differences in property‑tax payments, stronger sales tax receipts in the quarter compared with 2024, and a marked increase in building permit value and count compared with the prior year — the packet showed about 1,500 permits and roughly $30 million in permit valuation for the first quarter versus about 1,000 permits and $18.7 million the prior year.

On expenditures, Carlson noted Eastside Fire & Rescue contract payments increased in the quarter, reflecting a 15.2 percent contract increase, and police contract invoices are now being received and posted monthly, changing year‑to‑year timing comparisons. She said the budget remaining figures over the biennium include amounts that are still committed by contract but not yet shown as encumbrances in the current system.

Councilmembers asked about vacancy and hiring impacts; Carlson said vacancies were higher than a year earlier in the first months of the biennium but did not provide a detailed headcount during the report. Councilmember Pamela Stewart asked for a future quarter breakdown of what building permits represent (new units versus remodels); Carlson agreed to include more detail in the next quarterly report.

The city will bring mid‑biennium budget amendments later this year to reflect actions such as the newly authorized utility tax. Carlson said the finance team will continue quarterly reporting and will provide an annual wrap once year‑end close is complete.