The Kirkland City Council adopted the 2013-2014 budget, the 2013-2018 Six Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the 2012 Property Tax Levy during its Dec. 11 meeting.

The two-year budget totals approximately $540 million, which is a 13.2 increase increase from the previous biennial budget due to the full two-year cost of providing services to the new neighborhoods, increased health benefit costs, the passage of Propositions 1 and 2, construction and occupancy of the Public Safety Building and anticipated increases in revenue from Real Estate Excise Tax (REET), impact fees, and lodging tax due to the improving economy.

In order to balance the budget, $5.3 million in cuts were necessary to ensure the city’s expenses would equal its revenue.

In his budget message, City Manager Kurt Triplett conveys, “This budget funds the priorities and vision of our citizens as identified by our community survey and achieves progress on the goals adopted by the city council.” He further states, “This budget provides the opportunity to recalibrate the projected revenues and service needs now that the city has been operating in the new neighborhoods since June 1, 2011.”

The budget is comprised of 24 separate funds that are independently balanced (i.e. revenues equal expenditures). The CIP is a six-year plan that addresses construction, repair, maintenance and acquisition of major capital facilities and equipment to improve transportation, utilities, parks, and buildings in the City.

The property tax levy establishes the total dollars in property tax that the city will receive, which is translated into a rate per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The preliminary budget is currently available online at www.kirklandwa.gov/budget; the final budget document will be available in hard copy and online by the end of March, 2013.

To view the legislation the council adopted and the video of the meeting, visit the “Watch City Council Meetings” webpage at www.kirklandwa.gov.