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Sunnyside council leans toward middle-budget option after heated public hearing on finances
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing with repeated calls for a forensic audit and questions about missing investment funds, the Sunnyside City Council signaled support for a middle-path 2026 budget (option B) that pares some staffing while seeking to preserve the senior center and most pool services; staff were directed to return with itemized cuts.
The Sunnyside City Council on Nov. 20 held a lengthy public hearing on the 2026 preliminary budget, receiving detailed staff analysis and dozens of public comments before signaling a policy direction to staff.
Finance Director Monica Hoffseader presented three budget scenarios: A (full staffing), B (targeted staffing reductions to preserve core services), and C (deeper cuts). Hoffseader said bond maturities in March and September could provide one-time relief but cautioned against depending on those receipts for ongoing expenses. “I went line item by line item on every single line item in the chart of accounts,” Hoffseader said, describing work to reconcile 2023–24 records and urging cautious use of investment proceeds.
The hearing brought repeated public demands for…
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