City set to adopt final 2023 budget

RITZVILLE – The City Council was expected to finalize its 2023 budget during a meeting Tuesdday night, Dec. 20.

The Journal went to press prior to the start of the meeting.

But during the council’s Dec. 6 meeting, Clerk/Treasurer Julie Flyckt laid out preliminary budget numbers and minor changes based on finance committee discussions.

The city’s final budget total was tentatively set at $10,001,434.

“Our current expense fund always gets hit pretty hard,” Mayor Linda Kadlec said. “With minimum wage and large insurance increases and other budget requests, this year’s budget preparation has had many challenges.”

Budget modifications for 2023 included a cost of living increase for all city employees.

The state-mandated minimum wage increased this year from $14.49 per hour to $15.74, a jump of 8.66% or $1.25 per hour.

The city budget added an additional 2% COLA to help offset the effects of inflation.

Last year, a 3% COLA was budgeted for city staff, with a 4% COLA for the police chief, public works supervisor and clerk-treasurer.

Approximately 14% of next year’s budget will be spent on employee salaries and benefits.

The budget also reflected a decrease of 1% in the city’s estimated sales-and-use tax revenues and a 4.5% increase in employee health insurance costs.

The largest projected expenditures — 57% of the budget — included capital outlays for a variety of city facilities and projects—maintenance and upgrades for roads, sidewalks, wells, public properties and annexations.

Insurance costs were expected to climb by over 22% and the city’s Avista utility budget reflected a 7% increase.

Projected revenues, based on the state’s “shared revenue estimator,” included elevated inflation and interest rates for 2023. The city will retain traditional budget projections based on historical revenue and expenditure trends.

The budget also outlined goals and projects for 2023 and beyond.

Under the category of Infrastructure and Growth, the budget listed current and future annexed properties such as Grainland Acres and the pending Reimer property annexation.

The budget also discussed planning for a pedestrian pathway under the Interstate 90 bridge.

Transportation projects included the use of Transportation Improvement Board funds to improve city streets, add vehicle charging stations in the Railroad and Washington parking lot, research a quiet train zone, and examine the feasibility of an Amtrak stop in Ritzville.

The budget outlined public safety projects such as updating the city’s Equipment, Rental, and Revolving plan for replacing police, fire, and public works equipment and vehicles.

Business development projects included partnering with Washington State University and other groups to stimulate new business development and jobs. Also delineated were efforts to increase tourism via various community events such as Art in the Park, the Ritzville parade and Wheatland Communities’ Fair.

Hotel tax revenues were expected to provide a portion of the funding for these projects.

Finally, the budget listed additional community projects to be funded from annual Innovia Foundation contributions.

These included replacing historic district light poles, building new restrooms at the fairgrounds, and adding more trees at the golf course.