POULSBO — Poulsbo’s proposed 2027-28 budget would spend more than the city’s General Fund takes in for day-to-day operations in each of the next two years, drawing its balance from $7.56 million to $3.14 million by the end of 2028.
The City Council holds its second public hearing on the two-year budget Wednesday, Nov. 18. The council isn’t scheduled to adopt it until Dec. 16.
The numbers
Across all city funds, the budget presentation lists $160 million in spending and $139.5 million in revenue over the two years. The difference is covered by fund balances and capital financing, including utility and construction funds, and doesn’t by itself mean a deficit.
The General Fund, which pays for police, parks, planning and most city services, shows:
- 2027: $20.58 million in operating revenue and $22.85 million in operating spending, a gap of about $2.26 million.
- 2028: $21 million in revenue and $23.16 million in spending, a gap of about $2.16 million.
That leaves the General Fund at $5.3 million at the end of 2027 and $3.14 million at the end of 2028, according to the city’s table.
What changed
Changes listed since earlier drafts include updated wage and benefit rates, the switch of solid waste collection to a contracted service, removing parking revenue and spending, including expected costs and revenue for the Poulsbo Event and Recreation Center (PERC) with a transfer of real estate excise tax to support it, and using $2.5 million in reserves to reduce a planned transfer for the Public Works yard debt.
Staff also list added funding requests. Personnel requests include reclassifying the code enforcement position as a communications manager, adding a quarter-time position to a recreation specialist job, to be offset by more revenue, reclassifying a fleet supervisor, and casual labor paid with opioid settlement funds. Other requests include IT security, Fourth of July event funding, and water fountain replacements at three parks. The slides don’t list costs for individual requests.
How to comment
The council meets at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Council Chambers at Poulsbo City Hall, 200 NE Moe St. The meeting can be watched on Zoom at us02web.zoom.us/j/89848416447 (webinar ID 898 4841 6447) or heard by phone at 253-215-8782, but the agenda offers oral comment in person only, generally three minutes per speaker. Written comments sent to cityclerks@cityofpoulsbo.com by 2 p.m. Nov. 18 will be distributed to the council but not read aloud.
The budget and full packet are posted at cityofpoulsbo.granicus.com.
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