City begins budget discussions

DAYTON-The City Council began 2024 budget discussions and heard from County Assessor Tammy Ketterman regarding the county money they have available to them. Mayor Zac Weatherford gave an update on amending the interlocal agreement with Columbia County for law enforcement, dispatch, and municipal services. He also reported about progress on the Wastewater Treatment Project (WWTP). There was discussion about continuing to have monthly workshops. There were notable reports from Finance Committee Chair Dain Nysoe who suggested ways to increase city revenue and the Chair of Community and Economic Development Teeny McMunn. A public meeting covering updates about the WWTP is scheduled for October 16. Council will also hold a budget workshop meeting within the next month.

County Assessor Tammy Ketterman presented to Council information about their tax district and the maximum that they could request for their 2024 budget. She reminded them that last year, they decided against taking the allowable 1% increase of what they took the previous year. That increase would have been about $4000. She informed them they can take some or all of what is termed "banked capacity" totaling about $35,000. This would be in addition to their 1%. The amount is the difference between what the city could have taken "highest lawful limit since 1985" and what they took. This "banked capacity" number is not a constant. It changes with each year based on "highest lawful limit" and the amount requested. The new highest lawful plus the allowed 1% increase has a result of about $458,000. Based on calculations, the city is allowed to request as much as 9.5% over last year's budget.

The city has a statutory maximum of $3.60 per 1000 of assessed value and is subject to the $5.90 limitation. The difference with the City of Dayton is that it's $3.60 also includes whatever the library requests and what the Fire District No. 3 requests, resulting in funds to the city much less than $3.60. Last year the amount that went to the City of Dayton was $1.93 per 1000 of assessed value. The library and Fire District No. 3 each have their own statutory limits and they have both been below their maximum limits in the past. The more they each take from their own limit, the less remains of the $3.60 (of the $5.90) for the city. As with any taxing district, any amount City Council would choose to take of the banked capacity or the allowed 1% increase would be additional dollars paid for by the taxpayers.

Ketterman said she is available to come to the budget workshop to help Council in understanding the tax levy, and she will meet with anyone who would like clarification.

Mayor Zac Weatherford said they are working with the County to add to the interlocal agreement for contracted services a limit to the increase the city pays which is based on the Consumer Price Index. He stated this amendment should be a sufficient compromise without having to reduce services. It is something that would be put before the County Commissioners and the City Council for approval to begin in 2024.

Weatherford said the County has formed an advisory committee and held a public meeting last month with another planned for October 17 at St. Joseph's Parish Hall at 6 p.m. where conceptual drawings will be presented, and questions will be addressed. There will be a final meeting planned soon. The next step will be to provide recommendations to the hearing examiner who will then issue a conditional use permit. Dates will be scheduled for water filtration test pits to be drilled as required.

Councilmembers have suggested dissolving the individual committees and use the monthly workshops to discuss priorities as a group. Councilman Jim Su'euga added that it is not about disbanding committees but more about having a model where committees could communicate with each other and with Council as a whole. The workshops would be public meetings and would provide opportunity to get information to the public. Weatherford thought they would begin the new model in 2024 and at the first meeting of the new year Council will nominate a mayor pro tem who is usually in charge of assigning councilmembers to committees. They can smooth the transition to workshops and determine their agendas.

Finance Committee Chair Dain Nysoe reported that they have been looking at ways to increase revenue for the City including increasing sales tax and license tabs or considering annexation which he acknowledged is a long process but is worth investigating. Council already has plans to raise the utility rates which will be presented for approval at an upcoming meeting. It was on the agenda as an action item for the October 10 meeting but was tabled.

Teeny McMunn reported for the Economic and Community Development Committee and said she plans to attend the Community Land Trust Affordable Housing Forum on October 19 at the Walla Walla Airport. She said she would like to see the city's Affordable Housing Commission active again. Mayor Weatherford invited anyone to submit a letter of interest in sitting on the Commission to the City.