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Committee advances AB26-02 to add economic development and human services coordinator
Summary
The Community Development committee voted to forward AB26-02 — a budget amendment requesting an $83,000 appropriation to add an economic development and human services coordinator — to the full Snoqualmie City Council for two readings, with the administration proposing ongoing funding from reallocated recurring construction sales tax and utility tax revenues.
The Snoqualmie Community Development committee on May 4 approved forwarding AB26-02, a budget amendment to fund one Economic Development and Human Services Coordinator, to the full City Council for two readings.
Finance Director (unnamed) told the committee the amendment requests an $83,000 appropriation to fund the position through the remainder of the 2025–26 biennium and warned that adding the position would create an ongoing funding obligation if the council adopts it into the 2027–28 budget. The director said the city has a general fund balance of roughly $2.5 million available and proposed using reallocated recurring construction sales tax and utility tax revenues to support the position going forward.
"We have brought to you tonight a budget amendment seeking to add one economic development coordinator position to the budget for the remainder of the 25–26 biennium," the Finance Director said, adding the request includes an $83,000 appropriation.
Community & Economic Development Director Mona Davis described the role the coordinator would play: tracking local businesses and vacancy rates, working with the chamber of commerce to attract new employers, pursuing grant funding for local businesses and downtown improvements, and coordinating more closely with human services providers. Davis noted the city lacks dedicated staff to monitor changing demand and said that, for example, the food bank’s demand rose about 21% in the past year.
"They would be looking for grants to try to award to our existing businesses and to promote bringing in new businesses," Director Davis said, describing duties that include regular engagement with regional economic development partners and local landlords.
Committee members pressed for clarity on funding math. The Finance Director explained that unallocated recurring construction sales tax and utility tax revenues total roughly $310,000 and that multi-year line items (about $152,000 in one year plus $162,000 in the next) factor into that total.
Council members and the mayor discussed recruitment strategy and equity goals for the hiring process. The mayor estimated that if the council approves the position in the next two meetings, the city could post the job quickly and potentially have someone start by the end of July.
After discussion, the committee signaled support for advancing AB26-02 to the full council for two readings, with the first reading scheduled for May 11 and the second for May 26.
Next steps: AB26-02 will appear on the full council agenda for two readings; the committee’s recommendation does not itself create the position until the council adopts the budget amendment.
