West Linn Budget Committee Approves FY 2025-27 Budget and Tax Levy on May 29, 2025

The West Linn Budget Committee met on Thursday, May 29, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers and virtually, continuing the budget review started on May 27, 2025. Members heard public testimony, reviewed Public Works and Parks/Facilities budgets, accepted state revenue sharing, approved the six-year capital improvement plan, and adopted the FY 2025-27 biennial budget and property tax levies. No consent calendar was included.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Victoria Meinig, identified as West Linn Chamber Director, requested a one-year pilot partnership at $75,000 to support economic development, business retention, tourism, and workforce development. She said the funds would cover staff time, salaries, marketing/outreach, and planning, with future one-time productions such as videos or directories proposed separately for approval.
• Committee members questioned the late proposal and lack of itemized budget; Abby Farber raised concerns about placing city funds with an organization without a clear track record. The mayor characterized it as potential seed money and noted a future MOU would define obligations. Council President Mary Baumgarner supported funding the Chamber and Main Street, citing their volunteer work and community value.

Discussion Items

• Non-departmental funding and general fund outlook: Finance Director Lauren reported the next-biennium general fund deficit is projected at roughly $9 million, larger than past $2–3 million shortfalls, though actual results often swing favorably.
• Main Street: The committee unanimously approved increasing funding by $30,000 per year from $40,000 to $70,000 per year, or $60,000 over the biennium, and drew the increase from general fund reserves rather than department budgets.
• Chamber of Commerce: After debate, the committee voted 6–4 to fund the Chamber at $35,000 per year, or $70,000 over the biennium, with funding taken from materials and services reductions in the general fund. Several members opposed or preferred a reserve-funded approach or no funding until a more detailed plan was provided.

Public Works Budget Presentations

• Public Works Director Eric and Support Services Supervisor Morgan presented the Public Works funds.
• Support Services: staffing remains at 10.25 FTE, compared with about 24.25 engineering staff in Lake Oswego; more consultant services are used for design and construction management.
• Streets: 5 FTE maintain roughly 216 lane miles; FY26 includes a large paving season and ADA/sidewalk infill, with rectangular rapid flashing beacons at identified crossings. Fleet includes about 80 vehicles and 200 pieces of equipment maintained by 1.5 FTE.
• Water: system includes 121 miles of pipe, six reservoirs, and seven pump stations; automatic meter reading is funded at $500,000 per year with a total estimated cost of about $2.5 million. Meter reading currently costs about $125,000 per year.
• Sewer and stormwater: crews clean about 200,000–220,000 linear feet of sewer pipe per year; the 116-mile system has about 3,100 manholes and seven lift stations. Inflow and infiltration reduction projects may qualify for a 30% Clackamas County grant. The sewer fund was reduced by the $2.3 million Calaroga pump station project.
• SDC funds: system development charge revenues are declining because of limited growth; SDCs may only be used for capacity-expanding projects, including $1.2 million toward the I-205 water line.
• GO Bond: about $450,000 of the 2018 transportation GO Bond remains for Safe Routes to School design in the Sunset area.
• Operations Center: estimated at roughly $35 million, to be financed with a full faith and credit obligation bond and split equally among utility funds and parks, with 20-year debt service. Utility fund contributions are $500,000 in FY25, $4 million in FY26, and $2.5 million in FY27; parks contributions are $4 million in FY26 and $3 million in FY27.

Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Budget Presentations

• Parks Director Megan presented. Parks has 9 FTE managing about 600 acres, or about 66 acres per person, including 18 playgrounds and splash pads. The Adult Community Center has roughly 350 weekly sign-ins, served over 1,200 meals on-site last year, and coordinated more than 6,000 Meals on Wheels deliveries, over 1,700 transportation trips, and 53 reassurance checks.
• Capital and maintenance priorities include replacing the closed Mary S Young bridge, the failing North Willamette bridge, restroom and trail repairs, and the Willamette Park non-motorized boat launch, which has completed 30% design with possible Metro local share, SDC, and Marine Board funding.
• Facilities: one FTE maintains 110,000 square feet across 10 buildings; planned work includes ACC siding, City Hall roof phases, library HVAC overhaul, Sunset Fire Hall ADA restroom, and a facility condition and needs assessment.

Public Hearings

• State Revenue Sharing: staff estimated $320,000 per year, or $640,000 for the biennium, deposited to the general fund. No public testimony was offered; the committee unanimously accepted the state revenue sharing resolution.
• Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan: no public testimony was offered; the committee unanimously approved the CIP as proposed.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the FY 2025-27 biennium budget of $194,078,000 for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, as amended. The approved changes added $130,000 in non-departmental funding over the biennium: $70,000 for the Chamber and $60,000 for Main Street, with offsets from general fund contingency ($60,000), city manager ($10,000), planning ($20,000), IT ($30,000), and HR ($10,000). Budget approval was unanimous.
• Approved property taxes for FY 2025-26 at $2.12 per $1,000 of assessed value for the permanent operating rate and a $1,851,000 general obligation bond levy; approved FY 2026-27 at $2.12 per $1,000 and a $1,862,000 GO bond levy.
• The scheduled June 2, 2025, 1:00 p.m. Budget Committee meeting was not needed and was cancelled because the committee completed its work.