Medical Lake council advances 2026 preliminary budget and unanimously adopts 0% property tax-levy ordinance

City finance staff presented quarter-three budget figures and recommended several targeted budget amendments ahead of the 2026 budget adoption process. The presentation covered department-level variances, proposed amendments and several capital-related items.

Finance Director (speaker 6) highlighted that most operational revenues were above expectations except for city beautification revenues. He said the grants department was at 94% of budget because of work on a groundwater study grant and proposed a reimbursable amendment of about $98,077 to finish the project. Director 6 also estimated additional recommended amendments: administration ~$82,650, solid waste ~$28,000 and wastewater ~$125,000, and flagged a FEMA repaving project estimated at roughly $710,000 to be paid initially from contingency with 75% federal and 12.5% state reimbursement expected.

The council opened a public hearing on the 2026 preliminary budget (hearing opened at 07:42 and closed at 07:47). Staff and the mayor said the preliminary budget will return for the first read at the next council meeting (first read scheduled for Dec. 2; second read in December will finalize adoption).

On a separate agenda item, the council conducted the second reading and unanimously adopted Ordinance 1136, setting the city—s regular property-tax levy for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Finance staff said the council had elected a 0% increase over the prior year; councilors confirmed that the levy excludes increases tied to new construction or improvements.

Council approved the consent agenda items and payroll/claims warrants as read into the record. Council also affirmed an appointment to the planning commission (see separate article).