Centralia workshop maps annexation options; staff flags police shortfall and sewers as major costs

City staff presented a workshop Feb. 11 on options for annexing parts of Centralia’s urban growth area under a 2020 state law that allows annexation by interlocal agreement, and asked the City Council for direction on which areas to pursue.

The discussion centered on whether the city has the physical and financial capacity to provide required services to areas under consideration. Staff said police service levels, sewer extension costs, street maintenance responsibility and utility revenue shifts will drive the city’s near-term decisions.

Staff told council the city currently has 29 sworn officers, a present staffing ratio of about 1.57 officers per 1,000 residents and that the 2018 comprehensive plan assumed 33 officers. The presenter said annexing all 14 studied areas would add the equivalent of roughly 4.82 officers; select-area annexations would add fewer officers. “This is big because … police is probably one of the biggest areas,” Staff member (annexation presenter) said. Chief Andy Caldwell was…