Washington Terrace weighs property-tax option as sheriff contract, fire and parks needs push budget higher

At a special Washington Terrace City Council work session, the meeting leader (Chair (S3)) told the council the city faces higher costs for contracted law enforcement after the county realigned its contract formula and shifted service allocations.

"The estimated cost for fiscal year 26/27 is $1,335,005.22," Chair (S3) said, calling that figure roughly $135,000 higher than the prior year. The staff presentation noted a planning assumption of a 7% annual increase for contract law enforcement costs going forward.

Why it matters: staff explained the county moved from a 50/50 split (calls for service/population) to 60/40, which increases Washington Terrace’s share of the bill. Council members pressed staff on local call volumes and whether deputies could prioritize warrants within the city; staff and members emphasized that dispatch protocols and shared precincts mean response depends on how simultaneous calls are routed.

Councilors discussed funding options, including a targeted truth-in-taxation (TNT) proposal strictly for law enforcement. Chair (S3) said the TNT approach would be presented with impact statements and a dual-budget option (with and without the proposed sheriff contract funding) so residents can compare outcomes. "We have to come up with a funding source," Chair (S3) said, describing TNT as the clearest path to maintain the higher level of contracted service.

Fire and EMS also factored into the budget conversation. Chair (S3) summarized a prior regional analysis that showed higher costs for a consolidated fire district and said the city will continue as a volunteer department with stipends for as long as that remains feasible. The council flagged a capital need: a ladder truck estimated at $1,800,000. Councilors and staff discussed grant-matching strategies and one-time funding trade-offs.

Parks capital needs were presented as part of the five-year plan; staff reported success securing matching grants and recommended prioritizing grant-eligible projects. Council debated whether to use a limited one-time balance—described in the work session as leaving a $611,000 fund balance after prior commitments—to match park grants or allocate it toward critical one-time public-safety purchases.

What happens next: staff will return with detailed budget assumptions, an impact schedule for any TNT declaration and a timeline for public outreach, including a proposed mailer, podcast and public training on the TNT process. The council is expected to consider a tentative budget and make the statutorily required declaration of intent to consider a property tax adjustment at its first May meeting.