Oak Harbor council adopts mid‑biennial budget amendment; most changes are carry‑forwards

The Oak Harbor City Council on Dec. 2 adopted Ordinance 2035, a mid‑biennial budget amendment and an updated wage and salary schedule, agreeing that most adjustments reflect timing and carry‑forward of unspent capital projects into 2026.

Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director David Goldman said the amendment is required by state law and city code for biennial budgets and that the changes do not represent a slate of new initiatives but adjustments to beginning and ending fund balances and carried forward project budgets. "For the general fund, we're looking at being better than our budget by about $2,600,000," Goldman said, and he described an estimated unencumbered budgeted ending fund balance of about $5,000,000 for 2025 based on projections.

Key clarifications from the presentation: the general projects fund (Fund 7) shows approximately $6,400,000 being carried forward for the fire station and purchase of a Quint apparatus; transportation impact fees have been volatile — Goldman reported $31,397.61 received as of Nov. 10 and projected receipts of roughly $40,000, leaving a shortfall against a $100,000 budgeted figure. Councilmembers asked staff to provide a breakdown of funds allocated specifically to the Universal (accessible) Playground versus the Windjammer Park improvements; Goldman agreed to provide the detailed spreadsheet after the meeting.

Councilmember Stuckey moved to adopt Ordinance 2035 as recommended; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously by council vote.

Next steps: staff will publish the amended budget figures and provide the requested line‑item breakdowns to council.