Finance director seeks $22.8M public works carryforward and flags $1.5M in one‑time funds

Leslie Blaisdale, University Place finance director, presented the city’s annual carryforward and supplemental budget adjustments at the May 19 council meeting, asking council to carry forward previously budgeted but unspent project funds into 2025 and to consider several new expenditure requests.

"I'm here to talk about the, budget carry forward adjustment," Blaisdale said, explaining that the largest carryforward is $22,800,000 in the public works CIP. She said parks CIP carryforwards total $1,276,000 and municipal CIP carryforwards total $664,000, which include completion of public workshop improvements (restroom and shop expansion) and tenant improvements for a new first‑floor tenant. Blaisdale also said ARPA/remaining projects total roughly $6,300,000 being carried forward.

Blaisdale listed other carryforwards and requests by fund: the street fund requested $142,000 for maintenance; the police/public safety fund carried forward about $196,000 (including a $72,000 overtime carryforward); the swim fund carried forward about $2,400,000 to cover swim CIP projects and equipment (including a recently received Vactor truck); IT requested $857,000 for projects; and the donations fund carried forward about $23,000.

The meeting included questions and pushback on new items. Staff proposed replacing an existing contracted content creator ($37,500) with a 0.8 FTE communications specialist; Blaisdale said the 0.8 FTE is estimated at about $85,000 total (salary and benefits) for 2025, leaving an ongoing net increase compared with the contract. Council members asked for a detailed job description before final approval. Council member Fleming said, "I'd still support it," but several members asked that the council be given additional documentation before action.

Council members also discussed a late IT request to add $150,000 for expanded cybersecurity monitoring; Blaisdale said the request arrived over the weekend and had not been included in the original carryforward packet. She recommended the council consider banking one‑time funds rather than spending them immediately. "The one‑time monies available is $1,500,000 in this, current forecast," she said, noting the council could appropriate those funds but that retaining a reserve would help with near‑term debt obligations and economic uncertainty.

Blaisdale closed with a long‑range forecast showing the city’s general fund dipping in 2026 after a planned debt payoff and then rebuilding thereafter; she stressed the budget as presented keeps the strategic reserve at 15 percent. The council set a public hearing and final action for the next council meeting to allow members to review job descriptions and additional documentation.

Ending: Councilmembers asked for more detail on the requested communications FTE, on the cybersecurity proposal, and on options to close the Chambers Creek roundabout funding gap discussed earlier; staff will return with a public hearing and an opportunity for formal approval at the next meeting.