Kennewick Council adopts first adjustment to 2025–26 biennial budget, adds roughly $67.5 million mainly from carryovers

The Kennewick City Council on June 3 adopted an ordinance amending the 2025–26 biennial budget to carry forward unspent capital project balances and adjust beginning fund balances to actual amounts.

Jessica Platt, finance staff, told council the ordinance is the first budget amendment of the biennium and primarily carries balances from the 2023–24 biennium for projects underway. “The total requested increase in appropriation you have before you this evening is approximately $67,500,000, with the majority of that adjustment coming from beginning fund balances or trueing up beginning fund balances to their actuals as well as carry forward of projects,” Platt said. She said about $2 million of that total represented new items; roughly $1.7 million of the new amount would cover planned vehicle replacements funded from the equipment‑replacement reserve.

Council members clarified sources and impacts. Platt said $1.7 million for vehicle replacements would come from the equipment replacement reserve and other new items would be covered by a combination of grant funds, additional revenue received in 2023–24, and available fund balance carried forward. She told council staff anticipated a general‑fund balance around $13 million and that they were carrying forward about $15.4 million for specific projects.

Council voted 7–0 to adopt the ordinance. The ordinance moves appropriation authority to allow staff to proceed with planned purchases and to formally appropriate several items previously approved by council.

No amendments to the ordinance were made during the meeting.