Enumclaw City Council Expected to Pass 2012 Budget Tonight

All the loose ends are expected to be tied up at tonight's meeting as the Enumclaw City Council hears the second reading of the 2012 budget ordinance.

In the last meeting on November 28, Councilman Jeff Beckwith secured $25,000 in funding next year for  to maintain the Youth Center.

At the same time, Councilman Sean Krebs brought up a scenario in which the city could fund the in managing the Visitor Center at least through the beginning of the year while a more permanent arrangement can be found.  should also receive the $4,000 it requested, he said.

But unlike Beckwith, Krebs withheld any formal funding proposals in deference to city administration which was looking into how to spend $10,000 that was allocated this year for economic development in the city (Kreb's suggestion for funding the Chamber would use this money.)

The Council at that meeting also passed next year's property tax levy rate which will be $1.30 per $1,000 assessed value, meaning that a home with an assessed value of $250,000 would see a tax decrease of about $16 per month, according to an October memo from Finance Director Stephanie McKenzie.

This does leave the city about $900,000 short in tax revenue for next year, but the rollback was a promise that Council insisted on keeping following the annexation of the fire department into Fire District No. 28 in 2010.

According to Councilman Mike Ennis, as the Fire District is expected to increase property taxes in 2012, Council agreed to roll back the city levy rate by 89 cents per $1,000 assessed value in 2012 so that the net impact on a property owner would be zero.

However, the actual levy rate that the District will implement in 2012 is $1.09 per $1,000. And according to minutes of a December 5 meeting of the Fire District, there will be a lid lift issue in April 2012 ballot as well.

Meanwhile, the city on November 28 also voted to approve banking the 89 cents per $1,000 capacity in the event it needs to raise taxes.

According to Finance Director Stephanie McKenzie, local governments that choose to levy less than the maximum increase in property taxes allowed by law each year have the right to levy the remaining amount later, if necessary.

The banked capacity of the city, in this case, is about $1 million.

Also on Monday Night, Council is expected to recognize the service of outgoing Councilmembers Beckwith and Rich Elfers, as well as long-time , who is retiring at the end of the year.