Olympia Finance Committee Meeting Summary - November 24, 2025
Olympia Finance Committee Meeting Summary - November 24, 2025
Note: The meeting minutes and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on November 19, 2025, but the provided meeting date is November 24, 2025. This summary uses the date supplied in the instructions.
The committee (Chair Gilman, members Cooper and Green) convened at 5:31 PM. The agenda was approved, and minutes from October 20, 2025, were approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jim Lazar spoke about the 1997 half-percent utility tax increase (Ordinance 5753). He argued it has been erroneously included in the general use portion (subject to the 11% interlocal agreement) instead of being dedicated to parks maintenance as originally intended. He urged the council to correct the error before final budget adoption.
- Finance Director Mike Githens and Senior Budget Manager Joan Lutz responded that the calculation has been consistently applied historically and is not an error; the formula in the interlocal agreement includes that half-percent, and its use for parks and bike lanes is transparent. Councilmember Cooper suggested making the budget document clearer.
Discussion Items
- Washington Center for the Performing Arts Annual Report Briefing (25-0973): Executive Director Jill Barnes reported no audit findings, strong fiscal year 2024 results ($78,000 tickets sold, 103,000+ attendance, 345 events, 31,491 students served), new subscriber growth (58% renewal vs. 43% national average), and the success of the Book of Mormon shows (sold out, tickets sold to 37 of 39 Washington counties). She noted a dip in current‑year ticket sales. Facilities maintenance and a new assistive listening system were highlighted. The committee discussed scheduling priority for local artistic partners and the balance between presenting shows and community rentals. Board Chair Tim Coley and Deputy Director Jocelyn Wood attended. The information was received.
- Consideration of 2026 Proposed Operating, Special Funds, and Capital Budget (25-0987): Finance Director Githens reviewed the budget, noting no changes from previous presentations. The only new addition discussed was 1.5 FTE for the rental registry program, funded by registration revenue. Councilmember Cooper moved, seconded, to recommend the budget to the full council for final balancing. The motion passed unanimously (3‑0).
- 2026 Finance Committee Work Plan Discussion (25-0986): A draft work plan was presented, leaving space for additions. Councilmember Cooper suggested adding a referral on climate funding and more discussion of capital priorities (e.g., the public works maintenance facility). The committee agreed to finalize the work plan in January when a new member joins.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to recommend the 2026 Preliminary Operating, Special (Dedicated) Funds, and Capital Budget for Final Budget Balancing: Passed 3‑0 (Gilman, Cooper, Green).
- Motion to cancel all remaining Finance Committee meetings in 2025: Passed 3‑0.
- The Washington Center report was received without a formal vote.
- Planning for the 2026 work plan will continue in January.
Additional Highlights
- Councilmember Cooper offered departing reflections on his tenure, urging attention to the balance between operating and capital spending, the need for future operating revenue, and deeper community engagement in budgeting. City Manager and staff expressed gratitude for his leadership and contributions to priority‑based budgeting.
Meeting Transcript
That's always been the thing that you're just for a moment or that's for good evening. Welcome to November. Oh, wait, wait, what? Good evening and welcome to the November 19th meeting of the Finance Committee of the Olympia City Council. All three of us are present. So we're beyond a quorum. And um it's 5 30 p.m. So the first item is to approve tonight's agenda. Have either of you had a chance to consider the agenda. I'll move approval. Second. All right. It's been moved and approved. No, it has not yet been approved. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. Aye. Okay. Great. We have an agenda. Excuse me. Jim Lazar has raised his hand. I don't know whether you want to. Oh, good. Well, thank you, because that was going to be the next question. Was is there anybody here tonight for public comment? And it looks like Mr. Lazar just might be here for public comment. Go ahead and speak. Oh, go do what first? That is correct. I am here for public comment, and thank you very much. And I wanted to highlight that at tonight's meeting. On that page, the uh staff inadvertently included uh the 1997 non-voted utility tax that's uh in the 11% formula. Uh the utility tax is a little complicated. Prior to 1990, it was four and a half percent. That is what's known as the general use portion. In the early 90s, it was increased by one percent for capital projects, and initially that was dedicated to parks capital projects. In 1997, it was increased from five and a half to six percent, and that was dedicated to uh in the early years to bicycle lanes, and in ever since uh 2001 to parks maintenance, and that's the half percent that I'm concerned about. And then in 2004, the voters approved the uh voted utility tax, 2% for parks, 1% sidewalks. It's the 1997 portion that had the error in the draft budget. Uh, on page 75 of the 2025 budget, it is accurately separated out from the general use portion. Uh and uh to my knowledge has always been appropriated to parks. I have to admit I only followed it closely when I was on BPAC and it was being split between parks and bikes because I was fighting for the the bike side of the money. Uh but uh it's not the capital projects money that's now been split into two halves over uh over time. Uh that's entirely separate, but I've asked the council to address this problem uh before the budget is adopted to uh uh appropriate the entire 1997 half percent for parks maintenance as designated in the ordinance that adopted that increase uh and remove it from the calculation uh of the general use portion to which the 11 percent in the interlocal agreement applies. I hope I've been back and forth with uh Mr. Givens and and with uh um uh Savannah Parks. I think everybody's aware of the error and the problem, and I trust it will be corrected uh before final passage of the budget. That's that's why I'm here and thank you for listening.
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