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Langley leaders warn of multi-year general fund shortfalls, outline revenue and service options
Summary
Mayor Kennedy Horstman presented 2018–2023 trend analysis showing recurring deficits and recommended options including a public safety sales tax, transportation benefit district, levy lid lift, service reductions, and seeking grants for finance and IT modernization.
Mayor Kennedy Horstman presented the City of Langley’s analysis of general fund performance from 2018 through 2023, saying the city has “consistently spent more than we made” and must change course. He told the council the City has repeatedly budgeted for deficits and that recent revenue figures have been inaccurately inflated.
Horstman urged the council to “reverse these trends by spending less than we make,” recommending a mix of revenue and service-level options. The presentation listed potential revenue measures including a public safety sales tax for the November ballot, forming a transportation benefit district, a levy lid lift, and liquidating nonessential assets. The slides also recommended seeking grant funding to support finance and IT system modernization to drive long-term savings.
Officials warned of near-term cashflow pressure: without additional revenue or service reductions, the city may need an interfund loan to cover a Q1 2025 cashflow lag, and the slides said the City had not funded required general fund cash reserves or capital reserves. Mayor Horstman emphasized that wages and benefits are the largest—and hardest to reduce—cost drivers, and that addressing administrative capacity (including hiring a finance director) is part of the multi-year solution.
