Snoqualmie’s City Council on Nov. 24 adopted a mid‑biennium budget amendment that adjusts the 2025–26 biennial budget to reflect the dissolution of the North Bend police services agreement, utility rate alignment and other changes.

Finance Director Drew Boutet presented the amendment and told council the package results in roughly a $16,000,000 decrease in total appropriations driven primarily by the North Bend contract dissolution and utility study alignment. Boutet said the amendment reduces internal transfers and capital and operating expenditures and that operating expenditures would fall by about 6.6% compared with the adopted budget.

Boutet outlined forecast scenarios showing ongoing expenditures outpacing ongoing revenues earlier than previously projected — now as soon as 2027 in some scenarios — and cautioned the plan assumes additional revenue from a pending comprehensive fee study. He said staff expects to bring low, medium and high fee‑update options to council in January or February.

The presentation also reviewed the optional public‑safety enhancement sales tax created by 2025 legislation (House Bill 2015). Boutet described eligible uses including hiring and training police and co‑responders, public‑defense costs raised by a recent Supreme Court order, diversion programs and behavioral‑health supports. He said a local 0.1% sales and use tax could generate an estimated $97,000 in part‑year 2026 revenue and about $301,000 in a first full year, while cautioning the tax requires meeting state conditions and qualifying for associated grant support before the tax could be enacted.

During debate Mayor Pro Tem Jim Holloway moved to retain a proposed planning‑technician position in the budget but freeze hiring until July 1, 2026, to force a funding conversation next year. Council debated whether the frozen “ghost” position would be shown in budget exhibits and whether it would be funded from fund balance if activated. The amended motion to retain but freeze the position passed.

Council then voted to adopt ordinance 13‑09, the mid‑biennium budget amendment (AB25‑107), as amended.

Boutet closed by noting staff will return with additional detail on fee options and that the budget is a living document subject to future amendments.