City Council Meeting - October 12, 2026

At the October 12, 2026, Renton City Council meeting, the council held the first public hearing on the 2027–2028 biennial budget. Staff reported general fund revenues of $321.6 million and expenditures of $333.4 million, and presented a proposed $27.1 million property tax levy, including the allowable 1% inflationary increase and adjustments for new construction and refunds. No public testimony was submitted at the hearing, which the council then closed. During public comment, a resident urged the city to fund replacement and expansion of Liberty Skate Park in the upcoming budget; this was a request, not a funding decision. Speakers also debated the city’s Flock license-plate-reader contract, which one speaker said was due for renewal the following month, but the council took no action on it.

The council approved finance committee recommendations covering several expenditures and renewals: $7,939,637.11 in vouchers, $2,389,466.34 in payroll, and $31,310.70 in municipal court vouchers; renewal of the 2027 Healthcare Management Administrators agreement at $384,750, with a 3% increase in administrative-service costs; 2027 Kaiser Permanente plan rates, including a 9.10% increase for active employees; and insurance renewals with Standard Insurance Company at an annual premium of $192,000, with a three-year rate guarantee and an increased basic life benefit for non-represented management employees. The council also approved acceptance and use of 2027 Community Development Block Grant funds and authorized execution of grant agreements, though no grant amount was stated. A consultant-agreement amendment was also approved, but its details were unclear in the transcript. A supplement to agreement KCA26251 with Perteet Inc. for the Southwest 43rd Street/SR 167 ramps project was scheduled for a future committee meeting, as were utility revenue requirements, capital projects, and fees; neither item was acted on at this meeting.