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Finance outlines mid‑year amendments: veterans coordinator, retro settlement, park equipment and other items
Summary
Finance staff briefed council on several mid‑year budget amendments — personnel for a veterans services coordinator, an AWC retro settlement cost, donated tennis court resurfacing, debt and project transfers, and equipment purchases tied to Keel Park phase 1 and other capital needs.
The city’s finance staff presented a collection of mid‑year budget amendments and updates on April 22, including personnel changes, a workers’‑comp retro settlement, capital transfers and several capital‑equipment purchases.
Troy (finance staff) told council the city is discussing an interlocal transfer of the violations bureau to Thurston County District Court; discussions are under way and staff expect an interlocal agreement will be brought to council. Finance also proposed converting contracted veterans services and volunteer‑coordination services into a single city‑employed coordinator position (the Lacey Veterans Services Hub coordinator), a recruitment that was underway at the time of the update.
Troy noted an approximately $84,000 amendment related to the city’s Labor & Industries/AWC retro program. He said the 2021 retro year produced higher claims across members and that the city’s experience factor has risen in recent years, increasing workers‑comp costs. Staff described the structural factors that raised the cost and said the city participates in a pool (AWC) that manages claims and mitigation strategies.
Other items included: a fully reimbursed $85,000 resurfacing for the Arena Vista tennis/pickleball courts funded by the Thurston County Pickleball Club (the club will cover the cost); an amendment to add an additional HEAR (home electrification and appliance rebate) grant that was received after agendas were published (fully funded by Department of Commerce grant dollars); and transfers into an arterial street fund for the Seventh Avenue/College roundabout project, representing council‑identified reserves for that project.
Troy said staff are ordering certain maintenance vehicles and equipment for Keel Park Phase 1 (flatbed truck already ordered); the remainder of the equipment list (mower, ATV, equipment trailer) may be postponed to summer pending mid‑year revenue review. He also briefed the council on the police‑station debt payment schedule, noting the first payment will be in December and observing that final bond amounts and premium/interest structure affected exact totals.
Finally, staff noted an upcoming loan draw for wastewater/water pH treatment projects (Madrona and Westside well sites) and that an interest‑only loan payment will be due June 1. Troy said the total of amendments and items discussed across funds was roughly $5.5 million, driven largely by capital and debt items and repurposed reserves.
Council members asked questions about long‑term cost drivers, the administration of the retro program through AWC and whether the violations‑bureau transfer would produce net savings. Staff replied that the violations transfer makes operational sense because court functions are a better fit for county district court operations, and that the city already absorbed some staffing reductions that made maintaining that function in‑house less practical.
No formal council vote was required at the briefing; staff said appropriate ordinances and budget amendment ordinances will be brought forward as needed.
