In an online message to the Mercer Island community, city manager Jessi Bon announced on Oct. 1 that the city staff has finalized the 2021-2022 Preliminary Biennial Budget and presented it to the city council and community.
According to the city’s website, council plans to review the preliminary budget at its October and November meetings, with final budget adoption planned for Dec. 1. Bon encourages residents to get involved and provide feedback and input.
“Our goal with this budget is to look beyond these difficult past seven months and set the city on a more stable and future-focused course. The budget is balanced and complies with the city’s adopted budget and financial policies,” Bon said in the budget package, which can be viewed in full at https://tinyurl.com/y4yzs2xj.
The budget snapshot portion of the package notes that the city’s total budgeted revenues for 2021 are $69.9 million and for 2022 are $78.8 million. Total budgeted expenditures are $67.8 million for 2021 and $74.6 million for 2022. This budget includes diverse services, projects and activities provided by the city for public safety, quality of life, infrastructure maintenance, transportation, and development-related services.
The two largest components of the budget are the general fund and enterprise funds.
In the general fund section — where most municipal services are housed — it notes that proposed 2021 revenues are $29.98 million with expenditures of $29.15 million. For 2022, proposed revenues are $30.69 million with expenditures of $29.62 million.
The water, sewer and storm water utilities funds combined revenue budgets are $25.7 million in 2021 and $33.2 million in 2022. Expenditures are $25.7 million in 2021 and $31.1 million in 2022. A portion of the utility budget represents unspent dollars slated for capital improvements that have been delayed largely due to the pandemic.
To achieve a balanced budget, Bon said the staff team took a conservative approach and found creative and bold solutions to some tough budget constraints, beginning with the city’s organizational structure.
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.
* 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.
She added: “It is my privilege to serve you and lead this organization. Thank you for making this the kind of community I’m proud to call home.”
