On June 11, the City Council kicked off the 2025 city budget process during an all-day budget workshop. The budget development takes about six months, and the final 2025 budget is scheduled to be adopted in November.
At the workshop, the finance director explained that revenues from sales tax, the city’s primary revenue source, are flattening. Growth in sales tax, property tax, and other revenues that fund city services are not keeping pace with expenditures. As current city revenues are not expected to meet forecasted expenditures, staff presented various programs the Council could consider eliminating or decreasing in 2025 if the Council does not pursue new revenue sources. Councilmembers discussed options, but no decisions regarding the 2025 budget have been finalized and the Council will continue to evaluate options.
Community members are encouraged to share their thoughts with Councilmembers via phone or email or speak for up to three minutes during Public Comment at Council meetings, which occur most Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall. Three public hearings on the budget are scheduled for September 17, October 8 and November 12, during which residents are invited to provide comments.
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