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St. Helens budget committee hears $3.1 million general-fund gap; water, sewer and storm rates eyed for 2026
Summary
Finance staff reported a projected multi-million-dollar shortfall in the general fund, noted an S&P downgrade, and presented recommended utility rate changes to shore up enterprise funds and fund capital projects.
City finance staff told the Budget Committee that the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget faces a structural shortfall and relies on a mix of one-time and recurring measures to maintain services.
"This year's budget process has proven exceptionally challenging with difficult decisions necessary to maintain the city's financial health," Gloria Butch, the city finance director and budget officer, said as she opened the FY2026 presentation.
Butch said the general fund was showing a shortfall in the multi‑million‑dollar range and that the city had used nonrecurring revenue in prior years to soften the gap.…
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