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Ferndale opens public hearing on FY2027–29 budget; DDA deficit flagged
Summary
At first reading of the city’s FY27–29 budget, staff added a resident-services strategic focus, said general fund remains balanced for FY27, and flagged forecasted deficits in later years including a roughly $300,000 projected DDA shortfall by year three (reduced in subsequent revisions). Council set the second reading for April 27.
Ferndale opened a public hearing and held the first reading of its FY2027–29 triennial budget. City staff described few material changes since the budget workshop, added a fifth strategic focus area for resident services and emphasized capital reinvestment to address deferred maintenance.
The city manager told council the general fund is balanced for FY27 through a combination of cost efficiencies and reallocated expenses, but the forecasting model shows illustrative deficits in FY28–29; staff said those later-year forecasts will be balanced using appropriation notes and deferred projects. The manager said county rollback factors were not finalized in time for this reading and will be included for the second reading.
Council asked for specifics on funds with intentional use of fund balance; staff named sanitation, DDA and water/sewer as areas that show planned fund-balance use in FY27. The DDA was highlighted as needing long-term strategy; staff said the current version shows a roughly $300,000 net deficit by year three that recent edits reduced to about $130,000 pending further adjustments.
Council voted to acknowledge the first reading and set a second reading and adoption for April 27, 2026. Roll call: Johnson — yes; Kelly — yes; Makolski — yes; Sabatini — yes; Leaks May — yes.
