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North Bend Council earmarks $685,000 to help cover 2027 police services
Summary
Council voted Dec. 2 to earmark $685,000 of the 2025 general fund ending balance for police services in 2027 as part of a budget amendment; finance staff said the estimate for the 2027 police contract is about $4.1 million and the earmark is one of several budget 'levers.'
The North Bend City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to earmark $685,000 from the 2025 general fund ending balance for police services in 2027.
Councilmember Susan Torgerson introduced the amendment to AB 25-136, urging the council to set aside personnel-budget savings now to reduce the forecasted police contract burden next year. "So, I'm making a motion to amend the pending motion and direct city staff to earmark $685,000 of the 2025 general fund ending fund balance for public safety services in 2027 as part of budget amendment 1 in 2026," Torgerson said during debate.
Finance Director Martin Cha described how the earmark would be handled in the 2026 budget process, saying the amount would be recorded as part of the formal budget amendment recognizing the 2025 ending fund balance. "The monies would be earmarked as councilwoman Torgerson explained for public safety services," Cha said, and noted that the earmark can be changed later through a subsequent budget amendment if priorities shift.
Cha told the council his office estimates the 2027 contract cost for police services at roughly $4.1 million; the $685,000 earmark would be applied toward that figure. Councilmembers discussed the pros and cons of earmarking now versus keeping funds fully fungible in case of unexpected needs during the winter months and agreed that earmarking preserves a planning signal while allowing a later amendment if circumstances require.
The amendment and the motion as amended passed with unanimous votes recorded by the mayor.
Next steps: city staff will include the earmark in the early-2026 budget amendment ordinance recognizing 2025 ending fund balances and report back to council as part of the 2026 budget process.
