At the Oct. 4 Mercer Island City Council meeting, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Chip Corder presented an overview of the 2017-2018 budget.

There will be many opportunities for public input and council discussion as the budget process continues, with adoption scheduled for Dec. 5.

With personnel costs growing and development activity projected to slow down, the city will have a “structural imbalance” between expenditures and revenues, Corder said.

Issues in the budget include General Fund deficits, Youth and Family Services Fund deficits, other operating funding needs and unfunded or partially funded capital projects.

Corder presented operating funding and capital funding options, including expenditure cuts, using the city’s rainy day reserves or going to voters with a levy lid lift request, something the council discussed at a Sept. 30 micro-planning session. Operating and capital levies are being considered, and the council decided to do a public engagement process next year to figure out what the community would support.

Interested residents can voice their opinions at upcoming budget hearings, which will be open for public comment. Any taxpayer may appear at these times and be heard for or against any part of the budget.

The hearing are currently scheduled as follows:

Oct. 17: Operating budget review

Nov. 7: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) review

Nov. 21: Finalize changes to budget, pass 2017 NORCOM budget resolution and 2017 utility rate resolutions, adopt 2017 property tax levy ordinances

Dec. 5: 2017‐2018 final budget adoption

As of Oct. 5, the city clerk has the 2017-2018 preliminary budget on file, pursuant to RCW 35A.34.100. A copy of the budget may be reviewed in the city clerk’s office in City Hall, or online at www.mercergov.org/budget.