Budget Workshop & Regular Council Meeting 10/21/26

The City of Cosmopolis held its 2027 budget kickoff workshop and regular council meeting on October 21, 2026. The preliminary budget included a finalized law-enforcement contract, with spending projected to be more than $175,000 below the 2026 budget and a 4% contract increase reflected for 2027. Other proposed costs included $25,000 annually for Springbrook financial software, $18,000 for fire-department training, and $20,000 for a cemetery roof. Council discussed—but did not resolve in the transcript—a proposed 4% cost-of-living adjustment and a $12,000 increase to the fire chief’s stipend. The sewer budget includes a $500,000 placeholder payment to Aberdeen, which officials emphasized is not an estimate of the amount owed; the 2025 bill exceeded $1 million and significant balances remain unresolved. No final budget approval is shown. The public hearing on revenue estimates received no comment and was left open pending budget approval.

Coast Communications presented its planned fiber-to-the-home expansion, described as an approximately $12 million privately funded project spanning multiple communities. The company outlined engineering and pole-clearance work, anticipated equipment orders, and contractor plans; it said it would bear costs for required utility-pole make-ready work. Coast proposed franchise-agreement changes, including extending the term from 10 to 15 years, and said it would revise and resubmit the documents for later council consideration; no franchise approval is shown. The mayor also reported that the city had successfully completed a $293,643 grant from the Office of Chehalis Basin and was seeking permission to use the remaining approximately $20,000 for a stormwater condition assessment. The meeting also covered a proposed council policy committee and city operations; no related procurement vote is clearly identifiable in the transcript.