Burien City Council members passed a budget of $40.2 million for the next two years at their council meeting on Nov. 29.
The budget was passed 6-1 with Councilman Jack Block Jr. voting against it. There was no discussion at the meeting before the council took their vote.
The city is expecting to bring in $41 million in revenues against $40 million in expenditures. The majority of revenues come from property and sales tax within the city,
Burien is expected to see a $1.5 million increase in property tax-from $4.3 million in 2010 to $5.8 million in 2011, due to the North Highline annexation. The majority of the property annexed is residential.
Sales tax revenues in Burien are expected to dip slightly next year, from $5.1 million in 2010 to $4.9 million in 2011.
Sales and property tax together make up nearly 60 percent of revenues for the general fund.
The ending fund balance in 2011 is anticipated to be $3 million, $500,000 more than this year's ending fund balance.
Surrounding jurisdictions are struggling to balance their budget but Burien was not forced to make any major cuts. At the beginning of budget discussions Burien City Manager Mike Martin said the city would not have to make any hard decisions to balance the budget.
In a couple of limited cases, Martin even recommended the council spend more money.
The city staff has not received a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the last couple of years. Burien staff will receive a one-percent COLA next year.
Martin has said Burien does not pay as competitively as other cities, but workers are happy in Burien because they know they will have a job.
One hundred thousand dollars will be spent over the next two years to look into bringing the Burien police force in house. Currently, Burien contracts with the King County, using King County deputies for the police force. Each year the contract increases by five percent, something that Martin has said is unsustainable. A study would determine the feasibility of bringing those services in house.
Currently 54 percent of the city's budget is spent on police, jail and court expenses. At $21 million a year nearly all of the city's revenues from sales and property tax go into paying for police and court services.
