Council may add to budget

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The Port Townsend City Council is mulling about $1.3 million for the 2018 supplemental budget and raising tax levies for property owners next year.

During its regular business meeting Nov. 5, the council voted unanimously to approve the first readings of Ordinances 3209 and 3210. They must be approved again at a future meeting before they can be passed.

No members of the public commented on either proposed ordinance. 

If approved, Ordinance 3209 would provide an additional $1,381,583 for a total of $12,335,213. 

Major appropriations earmarked include $786,143 for the general fund, $461,549 for the special revenue fund, $21,236 for the debt service fund, $43,437 for enterprise funds, $50,217 for internal service funds and $19,000 for fiduciary funds. Ordinance 3210 would affect the property tax levies collected within city limits in 2019. 

If adopted, it would increase the general levy by 1 percent, providing a total of about $4.15 million in revenues, an increase of $99,975 over 2018. 

In addition, the emergency and medical services levy would see an increase of 2.75 percent next year, providing a total of $771,155, an increase of $17,889 over 2018.

Finally, a tax levy for Mountain View Commons capital improvements would be set at about 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value as determined by the Jefferson County Assessor. 

That levy was approved by voters during a special election on Feb. 10, 2015, for the purpose of funding improvements to the Mountain View Commons facility, and to repay any interim financing used for those improvements. 

The council will consider both ordinances during a special business meeting Nov. 13 at City Hall. The meeting will take place on Tuesday because of the Monday holiday. 

Ordinance 3209 would need a majority plus one yes vote to pass.  

In other business, the council discussed the city’s 2019 preliminary budget, adoption of the 2019-24 capital improvement plan and the 2018 water system plan. No action was taken on any of those items.