Kent City Council approves 2016 budget adjustment

Published 11:43 am Thursday, December 10, 2015

The Kent City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved using excess sales tax revenue to help balance the 2016 budget.

The council approved counting on the higher than initially projected sales tax revenue rather than going with Mayor Suzette Cooke’s proposal for a slight jump in property taxes to cover a $863,000 gap.

City finance staff projects a $430,000 increase in sales tax revenue next year because of a stronger economy. The council also will reallocate another $433,000 of sales tax revenues from the capital improvement fund to the general fund to cover the remaining deficit.

The council approved the budget adjustment on Tuesday as part of its consent calendar, which includes items passed unanimously out of committees with no further discussion at the council meeting.

The council’s Operations Committee voted 3-0 last week to recommend the full seven-member council approve the budget.