The North Bend City Council adopted the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget Ordinance at the December 6, 2022, City Council meeting. The City’s budget reflects Council’s investment in community priorities, and multiple ongoing and new infrastructure improvements.
A detailed summary of the $104.5M in 2023 and $101.7M in 2024 Preliminary Biennial Budget can be found in the December 6 Council Packet. The budget includes an increase in investment in human services funding, dedicating $498,000 over the next two years. This was possible because of the City’s continued approach to fiscal conservatism in the budget process. In his Biennial Budget Message, Mayor McFarland commented, “The City’s tradition of fiscal conservatism will continue as Council recognizes it is a necessary aspect of providing for fiscally sustainable and sound city operations.”
The budget highlights also the City’s work in increasing staffing, and in turn, moving some services in-house, with the intention of providing long-term strategic cost savings in areas such as public works, finance, and IT technical support.
Another budget highlight includes preparation for the completion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). By the end of 2022, the City will have made significant progress toward the completion of WWTP High Priority Improvements. The WWTP is anticipated to be completed within this next biennium and bring much-needed safety and redundancy improvements for our community and our environment.
Mayor McFarland presented the Biennial Budget Message at the November 15, 2022, City Council meeting. Read his message HERE and view his presentation by visiting www.northbendwa.gov/civicmedia, and selecting the November 15 Council meeting.
In his Biennial Budget Message, Mayor McFarland shared that an overriding theme for these next two years “is one that honors our commitment to maintain our small-town character while enhancing the quality of life for all residents. We do this by completing projects that move our community forward through investments in critical infrastructure and by supporting business and economic development. The balance of fiscal sustainability and investment ensures a healthy future for our city.”
Original source can be found here.
