Kenmore council says budget shortfall urgent; staff to pursue consultant on ballot options

Kenmore City Council met in retreat to review updated fiscal projections and discuss possible ways to close a multi‑year budget gap, with staff urging the council to begin formal planning now for potential ballot measures and other revenue or expenditure steps.

Finance staff warned the council that updated assumptions pushed the city’s structural shortfall into the late 2020s. Melinda, the city’s finance lead, told the council, “it’s quite dire when you look out to 2032,” and showed scenarios in which reserves fall sharply by 2029 without new revenue or major cuts.

Why it matters: the city’s general fund is projected to lose ground because expenses are forecast to grow faster than revenues, driven by rising insurance, public safety and non‑labor costs. Staff identified several options to narrow the gap — from a metropolitan park district or a local levy lid lift to a local sales‑tax increase or transportation/public‑safety sales taxes — and recommended hiring outside consultants this summer to test messages, voter appetite and timing.

Staff framed the choice as a puzzle of many pieces rather than a single fix. Melinda outlined that a combination of revenue…