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Goldendale council hears preliminary 2025 budget; general fund shows a projected shortfall
Summary
City staff presented preliminary 2025 revenue and spending estimates, noting several carryover and new capital projects and a roughly $202,000 deficit in the current-expense fund; council set public hearings for Nov. 18 and will finalize levies by Nov. 30.
Jen Forsburn, who presented the budget materials to the council, told Goldendale elected officials the document reflected early, statutory preliminary revenue and expenditure estimates for 2025 and would be refined before final adoption.
Forsburn said the draft shows a 2% overall increase in non-personnel expenditures and a 7.5% average increase in benefits. She told the council that several projects will carry over from 2024 and listed new proposals: a West Darland Improvement Project ($900,000 with a $90,000 city match), an airport fuel-system expense rolled from 2024 ($114,000), an EV charging pass-through project ($278,000), and a $1,000,000 chip-seal project with a $50,000 city match. She also noted a parks project carryover of $45,000 and ongoing water and wastewater grant work.
"We did a 2% overall increase in expenditures across the board," Forsburn said, and added that benefit costs were budgeted at a higher rate: "We did a 7 and a half percent increase on benefits." (Presentation by Jen Forsburn.)
On fund balances, Forsburn said the current-expense fund shows a deficit of roughly $202,000 in the preliminary numbers, and that some of that shortfall is timing and project-driven. She told council staff and members will continue to refine numbers and that insurance increases and equipment purchases (a forklift and a parks mower) contributed to the projection.
Council members asked for clarifications about specific line items. One member pressed why a private sewer utility tax was budgeted for 2025 after appearing as zero in previous years; Forsburn explained the charge had previously been combined with water-utility revenue and is now being split out for clarity. She also confirmed the city used state revenue estimates (via MRSC) and an FCS rate study for utility adjustments.
Forsburn outlined next steps: the full budget will be presented Oct. 21 with a formal budget message and ordinances, public hearings are scheduled for Nov. 18 for both the budget and levy, and levies need approval by Nov. 30. Councilmembers discussed potential utility-tax options and future consideration of staffing requests (including an animal-control position) as part of budget deliberations.
The council did not take a final vote on the budget at this meeting; members and staff agreed to continue deliberations at future meetings and to provide more detailed, department-level breakdowns ahead of the Oct. 21 presentation. The council set the schedule for public hearings and levy approval as described above.
