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Buckley staff outline mid‑biennial budget adjustments; audits, grants and lodging‑tax recommendations reviewed
Summary
Director Hines briefed council on mid‑biennial adjustments across funds, noting lower‑than‑budgeted medical rate increases, additional revenues from investments, a $50,000 Pierce County contribution, and recommended adjustments to audit, legal and service budgets. The council asked clarifying questions and staff will return with ordinance language for reserve transfers.
Buckley — At a Nov. 17 special study session the Buckley City Council received a mid‑biennial budget update from Director Hines that outlined adjustments across general, street, EMS and utility funds and flagged several items for council consideration.
Hines summarized the process as required for the off‑year of a biennial budget and said the city folded typical year‑end adjustments into this update. She noted adjustments to salary and benefits tied to a police one‑year extension and associated COLA and reported health‑benefit rate increases landed below the 10% budgeted last year ("it came in at 8"), producing a modest savings. Hines also reported a $50,000 payment from Pierce County toward Pierce Transit connector/bridge closure expenses and outlined audit timing that caused increased audit costs for overlapping years; the exit conference for the current audit is targeted for Dec. 9.
Other notable mid‑biennial adjustments: increased legal services budgets for personnel matters and upcoming contract negotiations; higher inspection and third‑party review costs for development (generally billed back to developers); a $45,000 street striping addition to the street fund; added water testing budgets and a 2026 AWIA risk/resiliency update requirement; and municipal court accounting adjustments to recognize court activity separately.
Lodging tax: The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommended allocations for applicants; three applicants did not receive full funding recommendations (Buckley Downtown Association, Enumclaw Expo Center, and Pedals for the People). Hines explained council may approve the recommended amounts or adjust allocations among the listed applicants but cannot add organizations that were not on the committee's list.
Reserves and next steps: Hines advised the council that some mid‑biennial adjustments will be funded by increased investment earnings (~$136,000 this year and ~$96,000 next year) where available, and that where revenues do not cover adjustments the city will draw on ending fund balance. To address the EMS shortfall discussed later in the session, staff said it will propose transfers from the cumulative reserve to subsidize the EMS and general funds and will bring ordinance language forward in December. The council will hold a public hearing on property tax levies the following day and the full biennial budget hearing is scheduled for Nov. 25.
Quotes from the session included Hines: "We had budgeted a 10% increase on medical benefits when we did it last year and it came in at 8," and a council questioner clarifying audit differences noted the two‑year audit required more time and expense.
Ending: Council did not take formal budget votes at the study session; staff will return with updated mid‑biennial adjustments and ordinance language to record any reserve transfers.
