Deputy Mayor Kevin Wallace changed course during this week’s 2015-16 budget talks, agreeing now that the city must not delay a road project in Bellevue’s developing Spring District and that some property tax increase may be necessary next year.
Last week Wallace presented the council with an alternate budget proposal from that of City Manager Brad Miyake, which would have taken out a 5-percent property tax increase and $85 million in long-term debt to complete the first segment of the Northeast Spring Boulevard project.
Wallace said Monday he understands that delaying the process of acquiring right-of-way property for the Spring Boulevard project would be more costly down the road and cause delays for Sound Transit’s East Link light rail extension.”We don’t want to be responsible for their delays,” he said.
The council spent more than three hours adjusting budget items in what Mayor Claudia Balducci described early on as “sausage-making at its finest.” Councilmembers found common ground in providing funding for KidsQuest to purchase a former doll museum downtown for its new location and partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue for a new downtown club and community center.
Most also agreed to removing $2.5 million in Community Connectivity funding, which would have installed equipment to expand wifi hotspots around the city. Councilmember John Chelminiak said it is a good project, but not the highest priority when considering projects that would support people. The council stated the full benefits of the project had not been detailed enough to consider funding it currently. The council agreed to $200,000 in designing the project.
“What I’m hearing from my colleagues is we don’t have a pumpkin pie yet baked,” Chelminiak said.
Balducci proposed considering a 2-percent property tax to ensure the city can afford to continue with its community partnerships, hire an economic development director and set aside $1 million for possible commitment to the Performing Arts Center Eastside’s Tateuchi Center, assuming that commitment would likely increase over time.
Wallace said he was frustrated by the proposition of increasing property taxes, but felt he could support a 2-percent increase if it were placed in the final budget to be adopted in early December.
Councilmember Jennifer Robertson was able to pass through a motion modifying the budget with the property tax increase, with Conrad Lee opposing any additional taxes. Another 1 percent property tax increase is proposed for 2016 for public safety projects, like hiring back four of eight firefighters lost during the recession, replacing the Clyde Hill fire station and purchasing property for a downtown station. Robertson credited Wallace’s alternate proposal for producing a leaner budget at the end of the night.
