Mountlake Terrace council authorizes $8,000 Baker Tilly contract increase for fiscal sustainability work, 6–1
Summary
The council voted 6–1 to authorize a contract amendment adding $8,000 to Baker Tilly's scope to support an extra task force meeting and updated financial modeling; one member raised concerns that recommendations could increase taxes and said she would vote no.
The Mountlake Terrace City Council voted 6–1 on Jan. 8 to authorize the city manager to amend the contract with Baker Tilly, adding $8,000 to support an extra fiscal sustainability task force meeting and updated financial analysis.
Deputy City Manager Carolyn Hope told the council the additional funding is already budgeted in the city manager’s professional services account and that staff are not seeking a budget amendment. "We are not seeking a budget amendment for this," she said, and proposed extending the contract to June 30 in case wrap‑up work is needed.
Councilmember Sonmore opposed the increase, saying she would vote no and expressing worry that the task force recommendations could require tax increases. She told the council she did not believe the task force evidence supported some of the revenue projections and urged fiscal caution, saying the city must "count every penny." Several other councilmembers said they supported proceeding so the consultant could finish model updates and present recommendations to council and the public at a February meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Wall moved the amendment, it was seconded, and the motion passed with six votes in favor and one opposed. The council recorded the vote and staff said Baker Tilly would present the task force recommendations to council on Feb. 26 and would update the financial model with the latest data.
Outcome: motion approved 6–1. Staff will incorporate the consultant’s updated model into the scheduled presentation to council.
