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Council approves 2025 budget amendment after removing office, IT and HR items following debate
Summary
After a lengthy debate and multiple separate motions, the Sedro‑Woolley City Council approved 2025 Budget Amendment No. 1 (Ord. 209,825) but removed three proposed additions: a $15,000 one‑time finance office workstation, an IT workstation support specialist FTE and a proposed HR manager position.
The Sedro‑Woolley City Council and staff presented an amendment to the 2025 budget that included personnel changes, reserve re‑estimates and spending for Olmstead Park. After hours of discussion and several separate motions, the council approved the budget amendment with specific line items removed.
Why it matters: The amendment reshapes 2025 spending priorities, adjusts staffing authorizations and clarifies how one‑time park costs are covered. The discussion illustrates council priorities for fiscal prudence and staffing while highlighting concerns about city risk exposure if the HR function is not filled.
What staff proposed: Kelly (city staff) summarized the amendment as routine adjustments to the recently adopted biennial budget, including repayment of a 2024 loan, an amended HR position request, an IT position, a police officer addition and estimated impacts of police labor negotiations. The report noted a healthy general fund reserve (34% at 2024 actuals vs. 12% policy minimum).
Council debate and motions: Councilmember Diamond and others questioned a $15,000 one‑time finance office divider/space cost and an additional full‑time IT FTE. The council first voted to remove the $15,000 office expense (motion passed). Later the council voted to remove the IT workstation support specialist FTE from the amendment (motion passed). The HR manager position prompted the most debate: supporters argued the city lacked adequate HR capacity and cited risk and union/confidentiality issues; opponents worried about ongoing costs and urged hiring a lower‑step or analyst role instead. The HR manager proposal failed to secure a final majority during successive votes.
Final action: The council ultimately voted to approve 2025 Budget Amendment No. 1 (Ordinance 209,825) with the HR manager position, the IT specialist FTE and the finance office workstation removed from the amendment. The motion carried by recorded show of hands at the end of the discussion (vote counted as 4 in favor, 2 opposed on the approving motion after items were removed). Council directed staff that the HR position may be brought back for further consideration at a future meeting.
Quotations: Councilman Burns, arguing for HR staffing, said an HR professional is "worth their weight in gold" and warned about the city’s liability without adequate in‑house HR capacity. Councilwoman Diamond, who proposed removing the IT FTE, asked that the position be revisited in the next full budget cycle.
Background and next steps: The amendment included $350,000+ in one‑time costs for Olmstead Park that council had previously authorized and a projection for police labor negotiations. Staff said they will bring HR staffing options back to a future council meeting and continue to refine the long‑term fiscal policy for reserves.
Ending: The amendment passed with specific removals; staff will return with revised staffing proposals and additional financial details in subsequent meetings.
