The Spokane Valley Council is in the final stages of discussion on the 2024 budget, with recent talks shedding light on key concerns and proposed allocations.
One prominent issue raised during the council meeting was the surge in community calls about traffic-related problems, particularly speeding.
Council member Ben Wick highlighted the need for increased attention to this issue, stating, “We’ve been getting a lot more calls about traffic, people speeding, and we only need one more traffic patrol officer. That seems like low-hanging fruit.”
This revelation prompted a closer look at the budget, where Finance Director Chelsea Taylor provided crucial insights. Taylor explained, “In particular, the increase that you’re seeing in 2024 is about $600,000, $500,000 of which we’ve historically been drawing on from our Winter Weather Reserve Fund.”
The proposal to allocate funds from the Winter Weather Reserve Fund reflects a practical approach to address the rise in community concerns.
However, questions linger about the sustainability of this strategy and whether there are plans to replenish the Winter Weather Reserve Fund.
The 2024 budget, currently totaling $106,404,958 includes significant capital expenditures, with allocations to various projects such as street capital projects, park capital projects, pavement preservation, and stormwater management.
The council aims to offset a portion of the $19,420,397 in capital costs with an anticipated $9,507,426 in grant revenues.
Council discussions have been extensive, involving multiple public hearings and workshops since June. The budget overview spans 29 separate funds, with a notable increase in full-time equivalent employees by four in 2024.
Taylor also highlighted the economic challenges, emphasizing the impact of inflation on city revenues and costs. She expressed an expectation of changes to revenue projections as the budget development process progresses.
The council has not taken final action on the 2024 budget, and a public hearing held on November 21 aimed to gather input from the community.
Council member Wick emphasized the importance of public input, stating, “As the purpose of the public hearing is to gather input from the public in regard to the 2024 Budget, no action is requested at this time.”
The projected ending fund balance for the General Fund at the end of 2024 is currently estimated at $41,432,509, representing 71.46% of recurring expenditures.
The council anticipates further discussions and considerations before the second reading of the ordinance that will adopt the 2024 Budget. As the budget development process continues, residents and stakeholders await the council’s decisions on critical issues, including traffic management solutions.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
Reader Comments(0)