Following a three-month city endeavor, the Mercer Island City Council unanimously voted to approve the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget at its Dec. 1 virtual meeting. Council members joined in a round of applause after the 7-0 result was tallied.
The budget features $147.4 million in expenditures and $153.2 million in revenues across all funds for two years, and reflects the council’s collective decisions since City Manager Jessi Bon announced on Oct. 1 that the city staff had finalized the preliminary biennial budget.
While discussing the preliminary budget, interim finance director Matthew Mornick told council on Dec. 1:
“We worked to strike a balance, being cautious given the high degree of uncertainty due to the pandemic yet optimistic with laying plans to reopen city services in a safe, smart and strategic manner,” he said. “We worked closely with you to shape the budget for the next two fiscal years, and the result is a budget that supports a formidable work plan and strategic community investments and ensures that the city remains flexible and adaptable as circumstances and community needs change.”
During the course of its budget work, council held nine public meetings, three public hearings and pored over 88 written responses to budget-related questions.
In the general fund section — where most municipal services are housed — the two-year monetary numbers are $62.5 million in expenditures and $63.3 million in revenues. The water, sewer and stormwater utilities funds combined two-year budgets are $59.5 million in revenues and $57.6 million in expenditures.
Council shaped the budget through 30 approved proposals of $3.4 million in one-time investments and $1.7 million in ongoing investments. According to a city press release, council also approved a limited range of strategic investments, such as setting aside one-time resources to restart the Thrift Shop, Community Center and recreation programs restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Council also paid down some of the city’s long-term unfunded liabilities, restored park maintenance service levels, and reinvested in enhancing the Town Center.
In a previous Reporter story, the city noted that the budget focuses on: Prioritizing the delivery of essential services; maintaining a focus on continuous process improvement and efficiency; seizing the opportunity this transition has created for them to evolve as an organization; providing stability for the organization; and strengthening and building the Capital Projects Team to ensure stewardship of the city’s critical infrastructure systems.
“We’ve made difficult as well as noteworthy changes during a very demanding time. Staff have shouldered these changes with grace and incredible resolve. I am extremely proud of them; you should be too,” Bon said in October.
Next up on the city’s docket, staff plans to publish the adopted budget by Jan. 31, 2021 and begin work on the fiscal year 2021 plan.
