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West Richland reports higher sales tax, lower permit revenue in Q3 financial update
Summary
Finance Director Erin Glynn told the West Richland City Council on Dec. 2 that third-quarter 2025 results show sales tax up 18% while building permit revenue fell 37%; overall the general fund is on track with 37% of the annual revenue collected through September.
Finance Director Erin Glynn presented the City of West Richland’s third-quarter 2025 financial report at the Dec. 2 council meeting, saying the city has collected roughly 37% of its budgeted revenues through September and that sales tax receipts have risen "18%" compared with the prior year.
Glynn highlighted local economic indicators and revenue drivers. "Unemployment ... has increased 4.6% for Benton County," she said, and nationally the 12‑month Consumer Price Index increase was about 3% comparing September 2024 to September 2025. She told council single‑family building permits are down 7% year‑over‑year with 82 new single‑family permits issued through the third quarter and that multifamily permits are at "0 so far this year compared to 40 last year." Glynn said that building‑permit revenue has declined about 37% versus the prior year's third quarter.
On the revenues side, Glynn said most general‑fund revenue — about 66% — comes from taxes (sales, property and utilities) and noted the city has realized a 5% increase in total general‑fund revenue for 2025 compared with 2024. "Sales tax revenue has seen an increase of 18%," she said, adding that transfers from Fund 105 helped offset weaker permit receipts.
Glynn also reviewed fund specifics: property‑tax receipts were up about 6% year‑over‑year (with the majority collected in the second and fourth quarters), public‑safety spending is the largest general‑fund expense at about 42%, and utility funds reported moderate increases driven by rate changes and new residences (water up 5%; sewer up 9%; stormwater up 12%). The utility billing roll totaled approximately 5,986 water accounts billed as of September 2025.
Council members followed with technical questions. Council member Blum asked whether attached row houses or townhouses are treated as multifamily; Eric from building services replied that attached townhouses/row houses are classified as single‑family residential under the building code, which explains some permit‑count differences. Council members also questioned REET/REIT fund projections and whether timing or prior delinquencies affected property‑tax comparisons; Glynn said some year‑to‑year variance can reflect timing of collections and conservative budgeting assumptions.
The council heard the report and had no action attached beyond follow‑up questions; the finance presentation closed with staff offering to provide further detail if council members want additional breakdowns of particular funds or revenue sources.
