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Votes at a glance: Astoria council adopts budget, accepts state revenue, updates cemetery fees and adopts preservation plan
Summary
At its June 2 meeting the Astoria City Council approved the FY2025-26 budget and tax rate, adopted a resolution to accept state-shared revenues, updated Ocean View Cemetery fees effective July 1 and adopted the 2025 Historic Preservation Plan; all these actions passed by roll call during the meeting.
The Astoria City Council took several formal actions on June 2 during a meeting that also included a lengthy public hearing on vacation-rental licensing.
Budget and tax rate: Finance Director Hillary Norton presented the FY2025-26 proposed budget (just over $81 million) and noted a minor correction in the cemetery fund (+$6,000) and the library bond obligation ($642,975). The council held a public hearing and then adopted the budget and the associated property tax rate (presented as approximately $8.17 per $1,000 of assessed value) by unanimous roll call.
State shared revenues: The council adopted a resolution declaring the city’s intent to receive state shared revenues (estimated at just under $1.9 million), with staff breaking down the estimate approximately as: gas tax ~$810,000; alcohol tax ~$282,000; cigarette tax ~$6,000; marijuana tax ~$240,000; and 911 revenue ~$550,000.
Cemetery fees: Staff presented a recommended update to the Ocean View Cemetery fee schedule based on a 2020 master plan and an ongoing need to ensure perpetual-care funding. The fee resolution (effective July 1, 2025) was approved by roll call.
Historic Preservation Plan: Contract planner Rosemary Johnson presented the grant-funded 2025 Historic Preservation Plan, a nonregulatory guidance document that outlines goals, recommended code updates, inventory priorities and suggested partners and funding sources. Council discussed scope and design-review implications, requested clarifying language on inventory/design review, and adopted the plan by roll call.
Procedural notes: The council extended the meeting twice to complete business and voted to hold a special meeting the following Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. to coordinate community responses to the sudden Tongue Point Job Corps closure.
Votes (summary): Consent calendar adopted (single motion); Ordinance 25-07 (vacation rental licensing) adopted 4–1 (separate action); FY2025-26 budget and tax rate adopted (unanimous); resolution to receive state-shared revenues adopted (unanimous); Ocean View Cemetery fee resolution adopted (unanimous); 2025 Historic Preservation Plan adopted (unanimous).
