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Forks council reviews 2026 budget; proposes $30,000 for Tillicum Park, weighs sewer-rate increase
Summary
At a Dec. 1 special session the Forks City Council opened and closed a public hearing with no public comment and then reviewed updates to the proposed 2026 budget, including a $30,000 General Fund allocation for Tillicum Park and a proposed sewer-rate adjustment that would add about $25,000 each to sewer operations and capital.
The Forks City Council met in a special session Dec. 1, 2025, opened a final 2026 budget public hearing that drew no public comment, and then spent the meeting examining updates to the preliminary 2026 budget. Clerk/Treasurer Caryn DePew laid out the changes, including a proposed $30,000 allocation from the General Fund beginning balance to the City’s portion of the Tillicum Park budget and a sewer-rate adjustment described as an additional 10% on top of a 2.7% CPI increase.
The proposed sewer adjustment, DePew said, would add roughly $25,000 to sewer operations and $25,000 to sewer capital-improvement accounts. Attorney/Planner Fleck outlined the respective roles of the City and the Park Board in implementing improvements at Tillicum Park and provided additional details on the Industrial Park budget, noting DePew had made no changes to that item and describing existing grants, loans and a proposed lease for the Industrial Park.
Public Works Director Hampton told the council the Department of Ecology could require the city to drill new monitor wells depending on a forthcoming report about how effluent from the wastewater treatment plant percolates toward the Calawah River; he also said the aeration-basin liner at the plant needs replacement. Those remarks framed potential capital costs and regulatory contingencies that could affect the sewer and public-works budgets.
Councilmember Wood asked about jail upgrades referenced in prior budget discussions; Police Chief Rowley summarized upgrades already completed and identified remaining needs that would require further funding. Councilmember Pearson asked for information about a $36,000 line in the Transit Center budget; Fleck and Rowley provided cost and revenue context for that line item.
DePew told the council the net effect of the changes discussed at the workshop was about $55,000 and said she would like the 2026 budget completed for action at the next regular meeting. The meeting concluded on a motion to adjourn by Councilmember Soha, seconded by Councilmember Wood; the motion carried and Mayor Tim Fletcher adjourned the session at 8:06 p.m.
