Everett staff report stronger-than-expected early revenues; outreach finds residents prioritize public safety

Jamie Lee Graves, assistant finance director, told the City of Everett Budget and Finance Committee on April 16 that general government revenues through Feb. 28 “exceeded projections by approximately $1,200,000,” with “total revenues for the month reaching just over $983,000.”

Graves said the increase was driven in part by the timing of operating transfers and stronger collections in miscellaneous revenues, business-and-occupation (B&O) tax and sales tax. “Receipts through February reflect an increase of 360,546, or 8.3%,” she said of the B&O tax; she added sales-tax collections were $17,389, or 0.3%, above budget and reminded the committee that sales tax is received on a two-month lag.

Heidi Broulantes, finance director, said the year-to-date revenue uptick should not yet be taken as a recurring trend because collections can vary seasonally and by timing of payments. She also told the committee that overall departmental spending remained below budget but that expenditures…