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Finance presents mid‑biennial budget changes; sewer rate and personnel adjustments highlighted
Summary
Finance Director Lindsey Vaughn presented the city's mid‑biennial budget adjustments covering grant pass‑throughs, reimbursements, overtime true‑ups, personnel market adjustments, a proposed sewer residential monthly rate change to $86.24 and traffic safety fund shifts tied to judicial workload; staff will return with details for formal action.
Lake Forest Park — Finance Director Lindsey Vaughn gave an extensive first‑touch presentation on the 2025–26 mid‑biennial budget adjustment, noting multiple pass‑through grants, reimbursements to judicial overtime, personnel market adjustments, and proposed utility rate updates.
Vaughn said grant pass‑throughs for police and a health and wellness grant were included and that the administration will correct an agency attribution noted on the agenda (WASPIC). She outlined judicial reimbursements tied to system issues and an unusual storm event that generated overtime, and referenced a $14,000 reimbursement from the Administrative Office of the Courts to expand the judicial overtime budget.
On utilities, Vaughn reported a requested sewer residential monthly service rate amendment to $86.24 following an eleventh‑hour rate change by King County; staff said this and related commercial and multifamily sewer fees would be amended and passed through on both revenue and expenditure sides. The surface water utility assessment was noted as proposed to increase 15% (10% operations, 5% stormwater program coordinator), per the adopted budget strategy.
Vaughn identified several personnel items: a small set of market adjustments for nonrepresented positions (court administrator, court clerk, public record specialist, public works superintendent, finance specialist), and the fiscal impact of buyouts and turnover in the police department. The packet also lists user‑fee changes including an increase in passport photo fees from $20 to $25 to reflect digital photo implementation.
HR Director Shannon Moore expanded on recruitment pressures, a high volume of filled openings, and a proposed limited‑term or permanent HR position to reduce reliance on temporary staffing arrangements.
This presentation was a first touch; staff indicated they will return with precise amendment language and numbers for adoption at a future council meeting or special session.
