Blaine City Council adopts $56.4 million budget for 2019

By Stefanie Donahue

Blaine City Council voted 6–0 on December 10 to approve a balanced operating and capital budget for 2019 totaling $56.4 million. City finance director Jeff Lazenby said the budget prioritizes public safety as well as maintaining city infrastructure, parks and facilities.

The operating budget includes $100,000 for a full-time police officer position, $88,000 for a full-time parks and facilities position, $70,000 for What-Comm 911 emergency dispatch services and $26,000 for a part-time administrative services position.

The funds will be taken from the $7.8 million general fund, which is used to pay for city administration, policing and utility billing, among other things. The fund is generated by taxes and fees, such as sales, utility and property taxes.

The Blaine Police Department is the largest recipient of general fund revenue. Thirty-four percent of the fund, totaling approximately $2.7 million, is budgeted for police department services in 2019.

In its capital budget, the city approved $800,000 to extend sewer lines to east Blaine, $145,000 to design and build a trail along Semiahmoo Spit, $100,000 to demolish the former City Hall building and $40,000 for an improvement project at Blaine Cemetery.

Lazenby said full-time equivalent positions at the city are expected to rise from 61 to 65 in 2019, which will bring the city back to pre-recession levels.

In conjunction with passing the 2019 budget, Blaine City Council also approved a 1 percent property tax increase in November. The 1 percent increase is projected to generate approximately $11,385 in revenue for 2019.