Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Finance director flags sustainability questions and timeline for possible levy-lid lift
Summary
Finance Director Kelly Beach said Langley's general fund balance grew unexpectedly but at cost, prompting an FPLC review of sustainability and a timeline that would place a levy-lid lift on a November ballot if council refers it by July.
Kelly Beach, the city's finance director, told council the general fund balance increased more than expected for 2025 but warned that the growth came with costs and one-time items that may not be sustainable.
"We grew our general fund balance more than we thought that we were going to be able to grow it in 2025," Beach said, but added staff must evaluate whether that level is sustainable and whether staffing and service levels need adjustment. Beach said the FPLC will analyze the outlook and that a levy-lid lift would need to be referred to council before July in order to appear on the November ballot; collections would begin the following January if voters approve the measure.
Council members asked for regularized sales tax and hotel-motel reports and for clear presentations the public can use to understand the request if a levy proposal is advanced. Beach said staff will track one-time revenue spikes (for example, sales-tax gains tied to the LIP project) separately when developing projections and will return with FPLC recommendations in March or April.
