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Public works and finance staff present FY26 budget; two public-works positions and major projects proposed
Summary
City staff presented the proposed FY26 budget including two new public-works positions, planned capital projects across streets/water/sewer, and transfers from reserves to fund construction.
City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Finance and Administration Committee and to the Community Development and Public Works committees, detailing department-level requests, capital projects, and proposed staffing additions.
Why it matters: the proposed budget frames the city's spending and project work for the coming year, including use of reserves for large capital projects. Staff said the city's total revenues presented were about $106.59 million, a roughly 4% increase over last year, with personnel costs representing the largest share of operating expenses.
Staffing and operations: the Public Works department requested two full-time positions — an administrative assistant to handle increased permitting and stormwater program administration and a project engineer to support engineering workload, stormwater outfall inspections, and project delivery. Public Works reported current staffing of 49 full-time employees, one part-time and six seasonal staff and said the additional positions respond to regulatory workloads and program expansions such as the new stormwater assistance program.
Major projects and capital spending: Public Works presented an extensive construction and engineering program (roughly $21 million in construction line items for FY26). Significant items described included: - Pierce Boulevard traffic calming program (design/construction, stormwater and roadway overlays; staff estimate $3.7 million) and related drainage work from the Pine Tree Estates study. - Woodstream Sewer/ South Trunk Line replacement phases and the recently awarded Woodstream Sewer Bypass (contract discussed separately). - Ogles Creek Trail construction continuation and State Street/North Lincoln streetscape design and resurfacing projects (MFT and federal funding may offset costs). - Water infrastructure work including tower maintenance and a main replacement on Longacre/Ashland to coordinate with streetscape work.
Funding and reserves: staff explained that several funds will draw down reserves to deliver projects this year (water, wastewater, Prop S and MFT). Examples: the budget includes proposed transfers from reserves totaling several million dollars across water and wastewater to complete planned work; staff emphasized some projects are carryovers from prior years.
Questions from council and public: committee members asked which projects address localized residential flooding; staff pointed to North Cherry Street drainage improvements and other stormwater projects in the CIP, and they said design dollars are planned in the coming year for large flooding projects. Residents spoke during public comment about localized erosion and flooding at Alyssa/Knob Creek and other neighborhoods; staff acknowledged ongoing work to prioritize and design larger mitigation projects.
Next steps: the FY26 budget will be refined in March and returned to council for action in April; specific projects will proceed to design and bidding as funds or council approvals allow.
