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Duvall finance director: revenues tracking above budget; public hearing on mid‑biennium review set for Nov. 18
Summary
Finance Director Beth McMann told the Duvall City Council that revenue for 2025 is coming in above projections while most expenditures are within budget; council held the mid‑biennium public hearing open to Nov. 18 for further comment and possible adjustments.
Finance Director Beth McMann told the Duvall City Council on Oct. 21 that the city’s mid‑biennial revenue estimates for 2025 are higher than budgeted while overall expenditures remain largely within the biennial appropriation.
McMann said the city is 38% through the 2025–26 biennium and reported that total revenues are at about 37% of budget while total expenditures are at about 34% of budget. She highlighted higher‑than‑expected investment earnings, water charges for services, general facility charges, building permit fees, utility tax and sales tax receipts as contributors to the stronger revenue picture.
The review identified several specific appropriation changes the administration plans to bring back for council action: a council‑approved economic development and tourism grant not yet appropriated ($11,009.89), a land purchase for Big Rock Park and the public works maintenance yard (the report cites a $1,500,000 appropriation originally budgeted in 2023–24 but recorded as spent in February 2025), adjustments to the building maintenance fund to cover insurance‑backed repairs to the Depot building, and carryover of unspent ARPA funds into 2025 so the grant can be fully expended by 2026.
McMann also noted the city will have paid off two of its four debts by the end of 2025 (the wastewater treatment plant construction loan was paid in June 2025 and the Big Rock ballfield debt funded by a local lift will be paid in December 2025), which reduces future debt service obligations.
City Administrator Cynthia McNabb warned that council cannot take final action on the mid‑biennium review at the Oct. 21 meeting; the council opened the required public hearing on the mid‑biennium review and held that hearing open until the Nov. 18 council meeting so members of the public and council can submit any proposed adjustments. McMann requested that council members submit any suggested budget adjustments by Nov. 7 with department, program and rough amounts so staff can prepare cost assessments for the Nov. 18 packet.
Council discussion clarified that the city had budgeted to use a portion of its fund balance in the biennium but that actual 2024–25 spending came in lower than appropriated, leaving the general fund in a stronger position than originally forecast. McMann and other staff emphasized that the city is not approving a deficit and that Washington law requires local governments to balance their budgets.
No final appropriation actions were taken Oct. 21; the council moved the mid‑biennium review process to the Nov. 18 meeting for decision after the second public hearing.
Ending: The administration will return to the council Nov. 18 with any requested adjustments and a staff analysis of impacts. Council members were invited to submit proposed augmentations or reductions by Nov. 7 so they can be included in the November packet.
