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Staff recommends 2% levy increase and utility-tax changes as College Place prepares 2026 budget
Summary
City finance staff proposed a 2% property-tax levy increase for 2026 and utility-tax adjustments to shore up current-expense reserves, presented capital projects and rate options, and closed public hearings with a final budget adoption scheduled for Dec. 9, 2025.
Mayor Norma L. Hernandez and the College Place City Council heard a two-part presentation Nov. 12 on the city's 2026 revenue forecast and preliminary budget in which staff recommended a mix of modest tax increases and cost control to shore up declining reserves.
Finance Director Brian Carlton told the council the city is limited to a 1% statutory increase per entity but recommended the city take a 2% levy increase for 2026 (on top of a 3% carryover), which staff estimated would generate about $65,000—6,000 in additional revenue for current expense. Carlton said staff also proposes raising the utility tax applied to water, wastewater and stormwater to bring total utility-tax collections on those services to 13% and adding a new stormwater utility tax expected to produce about $90,000…
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