# Yelm City Council Study Session 10/06/2026


**Body:** City of Yelm Government
**Date:** October 05, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Construction & Infrastructure, Information Technology, Physical Infrastructure, Digital Infrastructure


At the October 6, 2026, City of Yelm Council study session, Gil Community Schools presented its proposed educational-program-and-operations levy, requesting $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. The presenter said levy failure could mean about $9 million in further cuts and 80–90 additional positions, following 163 positions cut over the prior two years, and noted the district could receive about $2 million in state levy-equalization funding if the levy passes. Council members expressed support for considering a resolution endorsing the levy; no resolution or other spending vote was adopted at this study session. The city also outlined 2027–28 department priorities and said its capital budget would receive fuller discussion at a later meeting. Projects mentioned included a reservoir and well for the 640-acre development, the Bald Hills/Morris Road roundabout, and Rothen Road upgrades. The city said it expected state funding for a related roundabout element and would proceed with its own project regardless.

The city plans to set aside about $300,000 over the next biennium toward a new financial system, with an RFP anticipated at the end of 2028 and vendor selection in 2029. Other IT priorities include a phone-system upgrade, citywide data-governance work, and a framework for responsible AI-tool use. The 640-acre development agreement was undergoing final edits and was expected to be included in council packets; it identifies the developer as Yelm MPC LLC (Blue Fern), but no approval was taken at this session. The council also heard that a public EV-charging pilot at Cochran Park was installed by PSC at no cost to the city. A proposal to bill property owners for stormwater-pond maintenance was scheduled for further development and possible later consideration.

**Source:** City of Yelm Government