# September 29, 2026 City Council Workshop

The City of West Richland City Council held a budget workshop on September 29, 2026, to discuss the 2027–2028 budget; no council action was scheduled or taken. Finance staff reported that requested general-fund spending is about $13.2 million above projected revenue over the biennium, while the street fund faces an ongoing gap of nearly $600,000 per year. The council discussed revenue options, including a transportation benefit district (TBD) and a property-tax levy lid lift. A TBD sales tax of 0.1% or a $20 vehicle fee could each raise roughly $315,000 annually; voter-approved options could raise more. A levy increase of 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value was estimated to raise about $840,000 annually. Council members generally supported further exploring both measures, but differed on the size of a levy lift and the balance between new revenue and service reductions. No measure was approved. The city’s previously adopted criminal-justice sales tax is estimated to generate $225,000 in 2027 and $300,000 in 2028, while the admission tax is estimated at about $5,000.

Staff outlined potential deferrals or reductions, including new positions and one-time equipment, vehicle, and planning requests, which together could account for up to about $9.1 million over the biennium; service-level changes and deferred maintenance were also discussed. These proposals were not acted on. The mayor said the city administrator position would be postponed until 2029 and that staff would continue preparing a balanced budget for presentation on October 13. No contracts, vendor selections, or procurement awards were identified; the discussion concerned prospective budget and purchasing priorities.

**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 29, 2026