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Mill Creek budget update: staff outline mid‑biennium adjustments, surface‑water and TBD assumptions
Summary
Finance staff presented mid‑biennium budget adjustments and a proposed CIP amendment that deprograms or defers several large projects, adds a sidewalk maintenance program and flags City Hall North renovation questions; staff warned that a $20 TBD vehicle fee implemented over six months will yield less near‑term revenue than initially modeled.
City finance staff reviewed proposed mid‑biennium adjustments to the 2025–26 biennial budget and a package of CIP amendments at the Dec. 2 Council meeting.
Finance Director Lombard summarized revisions to beginning fund balances, revenue and expenditure projections across general, streets, surface water and capital funds. The presentation treated three categories: continuing obligations from the prior year, operating adjustments (including increases for district court, indigent defense and jail services) and major CIP repackaging. Lombard said the city had previously budgeted with assumptions that now need revision because some grant and reimbursement timing changed and because the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) vehicle fee collection will take about six months to implement — lowering near‑term revenue from earlier projections.
On capital planning, staff and the city engineer proposed a phase‑gating (30% design) approach, deprogrammed about $4.5 million in projects and deferred others to keep the CIP affordable; they added new maintenance programs (a $1,000,000 sidewalk maintenance program and a wayfinding/signage project of about $180,000) and a North Peak Trail pavement rehab project (~$1.1M). City Hall North renovation items (roof/HVAC and a larger LEED Silver compliance scope) were discussed at length; staff noted grant conditions include a 10‑year occupancy/commitment and LEED Silver standards that could substantially increase project cost and complicate timing with the DRCC planning process.
Councilors asked for more detail on how increased traffic enforcement translates to net revenue given state/court shares and rising court and jail costs; staff agreed to provide a detailed breakdown of citation revenue flows, court filing and assessment structure, and related expenses (interpreters, jail fees, public defense). Council also discussed options to balance recurring revenues and expenditures (further cuts, use of reserves, or proceeding with a higher TBD fee or alternate revenue strategies). Lombard said the proposed mid‑biennium adjustments would leave a modest recurring shortfall unless the TBD fee is graduated to higher amounts in future years or additional revenue/cuts are identified.
No final budget or CIP ordinance was adopted that night; staff will return ordinance language next week for council action.
