City of Kenmore Financial Sustainability Plan 2024

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Welcome to the Online Open House for Kenmore's Financial Sustainability Plan


This page is a community space to review and discuss Kenmore's 2024 Financial Sustainability Plan. Thank you for joining the conversation!

This site is an inclusive space that encourages diverse voices and perspectives. Participants on this site should communicate respectfully and professionally. Please take a moment to read the Ground Rules for participating on this page.



Background: What's the problem?

Due to the state-imposed 1% limit on property tax growth, high inflation, relatively flat growth in other revenues, unfunded state and federal mandates, and other factors, the City’s operating revenues are not keeping pace with the cost of doing business. As a result, the City of Kenmore faces an upcoming structural deficit in its operating budget (General Fund and Street Fund) and will need to revise the Financial Sustainability Plan that was adopted in 2020.



Financial Sustainability Plan Task Force: Who is helping to solve the problem?

The City of Kenmore has mobilized a Financial Sustainability Plan (FSP) Task Force to serve from January 2024 to April 2024. The advisory Task Force is learning more about the City’s financial forecast and budget, soliciting input from the community, deliberating solutions, and writing an advisory report to the City Manager. The City Manager will then write a report to the City Council with his recommendations. It is comprised of nine Kenmore residents and/or Kenmore business owners, many of whom have professional experience in accounting or financial management. See the list of FSP Task Force members under "Who's Listening", to the right.


How can YOU help?

  • Share your feedback using tools below. Ask City staff a question or share your ideas with fellow community members.

  • Help prioritize how the City spends its revenues using the Balancing Act budget simulator below. Feedback will be collected until April 8.
    Watch this short video tutorial for a simple walk through of the Balancing Act tool:


  • Attend the Financial Sustainability Plan Town Hall on April 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall.

  • Send your feedback and ideas directly to mmerrell@kenmorewa.gov.

Welcome to the Online Open House for Kenmore's Financial Sustainability Plan


This page is a community space to review and discuss Kenmore's 2024 Financial Sustainability Plan. Thank you for joining the conversation!

This site is an inclusive space that encourages diverse voices and perspectives. Participants on this site should communicate respectfully and professionally. Please take a moment to read the Ground Rules for participating on this page.



Background: What's the problem?

Due to the state-imposed 1% limit on property tax growth, high inflation, relatively flat growth in other revenues, unfunded state and federal mandates, and other factors, the City’s operating revenues are not keeping pace with the cost of doing business. As a result, the City of Kenmore faces an upcoming structural deficit in its operating budget (General Fund and Street Fund) and will need to revise the Financial Sustainability Plan that was adopted in 2020.



Financial Sustainability Plan Task Force: Who is helping to solve the problem?

The City of Kenmore has mobilized a Financial Sustainability Plan (FSP) Task Force to serve from January 2024 to April 2024. The advisory Task Force is learning more about the City’s financial forecast and budget, soliciting input from the community, deliberating solutions, and writing an advisory report to the City Manager. The City Manager will then write a report to the City Council with his recommendations. It is comprised of nine Kenmore residents and/or Kenmore business owners, many of whom have professional experience in accounting or financial management. See the list of FSP Task Force members under "Who's Listening", to the right.


How can YOU help?

  • Share your feedback using tools below. Ask City staff a question or share your ideas with fellow community members.

  • Help prioritize how the City spends its revenues using the Balancing Act budget simulator below. Feedback will be collected until April 8.
    Watch this short video tutorial for a simple walk through of the Balancing Act tool:


  • Attend the Financial Sustainability Plan Town Hall on April 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall.

  • Send your feedback and ideas directly to mmerrell@kenmorewa.gov.

Ask city staff a question about the 2024 Financial Sustainability Plan

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  • Share Why are we building a new Public Works Operations Center if we are short on money? on Facebook Share Why are we building a new Public Works Operations Center if we are short on money? on Twitter Share Why are we building a new Public Works Operations Center if we are short on money? on Linkedin Email Why are we building a new Public Works Operations Center if we are short on money? link

    Why are we building a new Public Works Operations Center if we are short on money?

    ScreenName asked 8 months ago

    In 2023, the City Council approved the development of a new Public Works Operations Center. This new building is critical to the future operations of the City's Public Works Park and Facility Maintenance.

    This is due to: 

    • the accumulation of new infrastructure to maintain (both from City and private development projects), 
    • increases in population served, 
    • increases in customer requests for maintenance, 
    • new programs to operate and support, 
    • more state-mandated stormwater permit (NPDES) requirements, 
    • the City’s separation from contracting for Lake Forest Park Public Works services in 2019, and 
    • the inadequate current location of Public Works Operations equipment and personnel. 

    Thus, the City needs to construct a new Public Works Operations Center. The City will issue debt to pay for the new building which will be paid back using Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) monies as well as using the Surface Water Management Utility fees. These revenue sources already exist. 

    The City Hall building is at maximum capacity. The new Public Works Operations Center (PWOC) will not only serve the need to provide space for the public works operations and maintenance staff; it will also allow for the expansion of city facilities to support the functions of the entire organization.  

    The PWOC will be a home for the maintenance and operations staff for Parks, Streets & Surface Water, Facilities, Fleet, Recreation, and Events & Volunteers, along with Environmental Services that includes the Climate Action Program, GIS, and Surface Water Operations.

  • Share How do the City of Kenmore staffing levels compare to other contract cities? on Facebook Share How do the City of Kenmore staffing levels compare to other contract cities? on Twitter Share How do the City of Kenmore staffing levels compare to other contract cities? on Linkedin Email How do the City of Kenmore staffing levels compare to other contract cities? link

    How do the City of Kenmore staffing levels compare to other contract cities?

    ScreenName asked 8 months ago

     City FTEs per Capita

    City

    City FTEs less Police, Fire, Court & Council **

    2023 Population Estimates *

    FTEs per thousand residents

     

     

     

     

    Bothell

    183.25

                       49,550 

                  3.70 

     

     

     

     

    Kenmore

    56.89

                       24,230 

                  2.35 

    Includes 4 positions added and one removed after budget adopted

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Lake Forest Park

    32.30

                       13,660 

                  2.37 

     

     

     

     

    Mercer Island

    144.88

                       25,800 

                  5.60 

     

     

     

     

    Mill Creek

    31.00

                       21,630 

                  1.43 

     

     

     

     

    Mountlake Terrace

    109.77

                       23,810 

                  4.61

     

     

     

     

    Shoreline

    205.91

                       61,120 

                  3.37 

     

     

     

     

    Woodinville

    50.56

                       13,830 

                  3.66 

     

     

     

     

          Averages

    101.82

                       29,204 

                  3.38





    Sources of information:



    * WA State Office of Financial Management



    ** Adopted 2023-2024 City Budgets



  • Share Will the City of Kenmore keep in mind during this process how high our tax burdens are these days, and how the high rates of inflation of the past few years have carved away at our usable income? on Facebook Share Will the City of Kenmore keep in mind during this process how high our tax burdens are these days, and how the high rates of inflation of the past few years have carved away at our usable income? on Twitter Share Will the City of Kenmore keep in mind during this process how high our tax burdens are these days, and how the high rates of inflation of the past few years have carved away at our usable income? on Linkedin Email Will the City of Kenmore keep in mind during this process how high our tax burdens are these days, and how the high rates of inflation of the past few years have carved away at our usable income? link

    Will the City of Kenmore keep in mind during this process how high our tax burdens are these days, and how the high rates of inflation of the past few years have carved away at our usable income?

    HBK asked 8 months ago

    Yes, absolutely. During this process, City staff and the FSP task force are utilizing an Equity lens in an effort to minimize disproportionate impacts on residents with fewer resource. We are also comparing our revenue resources and operational costs with other Cities to ensure we are not outliers and we don't create disparities. 

  • Share What are the legal limitations around tax increases (by tax type)? on Facebook Share What are the legal limitations around tax increases (by tax type)? on Twitter Share What are the legal limitations around tax increases (by tax type)? on Linkedin Email What are the legal limitations around tax increases (by tax type)? link

    What are the legal limitations around tax increases (by tax type)?

    Elassalle83 asked 8 months ago

    Please see the chart for tax limitations:

    Tax Type
    		Limitation
    Property Taxes
    		1% growth annually
    Utility Taxes

          Natural Gas
    		max rate is 6% without voter approval
          Electric
    		max rate is 6% without voter approval
          Telecom
    		max rate is 6% without voter approval
          Cable
    		May not be unduly discriminatory
          Water
    		No limit (Kenmore has franchise fee)
          Sewer
    		No limit (Kenmore has franchise fee)
          Stormwater
    		No limit  
          Solid Waste
    		No limit
Page last updated: 28 Mar 2024, 01:33 PM