The Pullman City Council voted Nov. 4 to adopt three tax‑levy ordinances for 2025 (to be collected in 2026) and to approve a Metropolitan Parks District levy resolution after receiving a quarterly financial update that showed weakening revenues and declining reserves.

Jeff Albrecht, the city’s director of finance and administrative services, told the council general‑fund revenues are ‘‘on pace to end below budget’’ and that the city is about $1.2 million under budget through three quarters. He said the general fund cash balance has declined by about $3 million and ended the quarter at "about 3.5 to 3,600,000 in fund balance," a level he described as below recommended thresholds.

Councilmembers then moved to adopt Ordinance 25‑20 (regular property‑tax levy, an estimated $99,000 increase citywide driven by the 1% limit plus new construction), Ordinance 25‑21 (EMS levy, roughly a $4,000 increase), and Ordinance 25‑22 (special levy for bond debt service; no increase — flat dollar amount tied to the 2017 voter‑approved obligation). The ordinances passed by voice votes; tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

Following the city votes, the council convened as the Pullman Metropolitan Parks District and adopted Resolution MPD‑01‑25 proposing a 10% operating levy increase that staff said would generate roughly $70,000. Staff explained that the metro parks levy has available capacity because total property‑tax caps and shifts over time have reduced its relative share.

Albrecht told the council the city has been using cash to cover the gap and that staff will bring specific expense‑reduction plans and follow‑up items to future meetings. He noted major drivers included limited new construction (affecting property taxes), variable sales tax performance and one‑time capital spending in recent years. The council adopted the levies and the metro parks resolution during the same meeting in keeping with the three‑step levy adoption process.