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Committee reviews 2027–28 budget calendar, Budget 101 and community‑partner funding options
Summary
Committee members discussed updates to the 2027–28 budget calendar, the biennium budget process (mayor’s transmittal planned for Sept. 10), and options for engaging community partners — including limits on CDBG eligibility and the city’s current reimbursement model for partner funding.
The Budget & Finance Committee used a July 16 session to review the draft calendar for the 2027–28 biennium and to run a Budget 101 overview intended for members less familiar with the process.
The finance director said the mayor’s preliminary budget is expected to be transmitted to council around Sept. 10 and will then become the council’s working document for deliberations and proposed changes. Departmental presentations to the mayor and city administrator are not public, the director said; council receives program enhancement forms with department requests after transmittal.
Council members confirmed schedule adjustments: a prior notation that public comments would be accepted at certain department presentations was removed; the Nov. 12 entry is a regular council meeting date rather than a special meeting; and the committee will take the second half of August off, with the next meeting scheduled for Aug. 13.
Members raised community engagement ideas for the fall, including an in‑person display and poster‑board session to help residents understand how budget dollars are allocated. A council member said such outreach could surface public questions about what the budget pays for and suggested the city explore ways to connect budget numbers to residents’ daily lives.
On community partner funding, the finance director explained Lake Forest Park is not directly eligible for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations (those flow to larger jurisdictions and then to King County). That means any local program that relies on federal reimbursement would need county flow‑through or a locally allocated pot of dollars and reporting requirements. The director described the city’s typical approach as a reimbursement model — partners show they served Lake Forest Park residents and then get reimbursed rather than receiving lump‑sum awards up front.
A specific administrative note: council member Goldman asked staff to notify the Tree Board that about $14,000 remains in the city’s tree account for possible fall tree giveaways or related activities. The finance director said staff would follow up and report back at the next meeting.
The committee adjourned after covering the calendar and process items; there were no votes taken during this informal session.
