PORT ANGELES — The City Council has begun work on the 2026 budget and part of that work included a budget goals discussion at their meeting Tuesday night.
“I think it’s important that we make sure we’ve taken into account the budget goals for this upcoming year,” City Manager Nathan West said.
During a presentation to the council, they were told the budget includes a number of plans the city puts out each year which starts with the comprehensive plan, the strategic plan, capital facilities plan and long range financial goals plan. In most cases, the collection of revenue is falling slightly lower than 2024, the council was told. Property tax is about 2.3 percent lower, sales tax is about 5.2 percent lower and utility tax also is lower than last year.
This isn’t a problem so far because city staff budgets slightly less revenue than they anticipate.
Year-to-date expenditures are on track and city staff is taking high inflation and uncertain economic conditions into account with its projections.
City Councilwoman LaTrisha Suggs said the city needs to be conservative and cautious as it moves forward.
“I anticipate grants being more competitive than they have been in the past and not as much there,” Suggs said. “As we move forwarrd, we just need to be more cautious with the plans we’ve identified. As we’re more cautious, I think deferred maintenance is going to be the result.”
City Councilman Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin suggested looking into partnerships with Clallam County Fire District 2 and Clallam County PUD.
City Councilwoman Amy Miller said she would be OK with bringing the border area fuel tax to a public vote.
“I think big picture is, as far as revenue goes, my thought went to tourism impact fees to where we can add those,” she said. “My plan or goal as I answered these questions was how to get our parks department to get more revenue.”
City Councilman Drew Schwab said his focus for priorities is increasing capacity for law enforcement and the fire department. He also wants to see the council go back to being able to have a representative at business meetings to answer questions.
Mayor Kate Dexter also wants to increase fire and police personnel in an effort to keep the staff the city has. She said increasing staffing could reduce overtime instances.
“If bringing in a couple extra people helps people stay, I think that’s worth it,” Dexter said.
No council member suggested ways to increase revenue, but the conversation isn’t over. The council plans to pick up the discussion at its next meeting.
“Our plan is to bring back a summary at the next meeting and provide some preliminary answers as well as give council more time to think about what priorities are,” West said.
In other news, the council set Aug. 4 as the deadline for applications to fill the position left vacate by Brendan Meyer’s resignation, which was effective Monday. Council plans to ask finalists questions during its Sept. 2 meeting. Council has until Sept. 28 to fill the vacancy, West said.
Council also approved a resolution to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform beach nourishment on Ediz Hook.
“This sounds like a no brainer sign off,” Schwab said. “It sounds like ‘hey, I want cable TV in my apartment and I need the landlord to sign off to allow them to do the work’.”
Unlike in years past, Port Angeles will not have to pay 10 percent of the restoration work, West explained.
“We’ve been removed from the project with the exception of property ownership,” he said. “The only role we’re asking for is to sign off on the real estate documents.”
The project dates back to 1974, when Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act which authorized Ediz Hook Beach Erosion. Since then, beach nourishment and/or revetment rehabilitations have occurred in 1978, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2002 and 2011, according to the agenda memo.
While announcing she would be voting against the resolution, Suggs said the Corps continues to throw money out the door with this project since they’re using sand which she said everyone knows won’t stay on Ediz Hook.
“It would be better to put this money toward something that would result in deposition of soil that’s going to stay,” she said. “I don’t think us continuing to allow beach nourishment in this manner is helping our community.”
The resolution passed 4-1.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
