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Ocean Shores finance committee previews budget after property-tax windfall, adopts best-practices timeline
Summary
Officials reported a surge in property-tax receipts and a higher ending general-fund balance, reviewed a new financial best-practices resolution and approved a detailed budget calendar that references RCW timing for hearings and ordinance readings.
Ocean Shores’ finance committee met June 25 to review May financials and to set a timetable for the 2027 budget process.
A finance staff member told the committee that about 1.9 million in property-tax receipts arrived this month and that the ending general fund balance was reported as 2.538 (units not specified in the transcript), noting those inflows make the monthly picture look stronger. Staff said the timing of property-tax collections drives larger balances in the months when receipts arrive and that the city expects another major revenue inflow in October and November, which will cover obligations including insurance and a debt payment.
Why it matters: Committee members said the figures underscore why the city is moving toward a more transparent, year-by-year budgeting approach. The committee discussed a new financial best-practices resolution designed to provide clear boundaries and accounting conventions for the budget season and agreed to forward the resolution to the full council for consideration at the July 14 meeting.
The committee also reviewed and approved a detailed budget calendar: worksheets to departments on July 14; department numbers due August 15; staff review September 2; revenue presentation to council September 22; the mayor’s proposed budget and property-tax ordinance first reading on October 13 (with public hearing and preliminary budget first reading on October 27); and a second reading of the budget on November 10. Staff said the calendar will include RCW citations explaining statutory deadlines and rationale.
Committee members and staff framed the move as one of transparency and fiscal discipline: the budget will list approved positions and salary costs so council and the public can see what is council-authorized versus what requires further approval. Finance staff also previewed an asset-management plan that will identify annual reserve needs for vehicle and equipment replacement, and said those needs will inform future budget requests.
What’s next: The finance committee will send the best-practices resolution to the council on July 14 and continue budget preparations through the fall schedule described to the committee.
