Bothell City Council to review 2027-28 budget at fourth study session

What the records say

The Bothell City Council is scheduled to hold its fourth study session on the proposed 2027-2028 budget on Oct. 27. The agenda says no action is requested at that meeting ¹. The council will be asked to approve the proposed 2027 property tax levies, a 0.1% criminal justice sales tax, a 0.01% human services sales tax and 2027-28 utility rates on Nov. 10 ¹. On Nov. 17, the council will be asked to approve the operating and CFP budgets and the 2027 fee schedule ¹. The packet includes the attachment “Answers to City Council Budget Questions,” which contains staff responses on budget topics. In one response, staff address a water-rate discrepancy: the proposed budget document says water rates rise 7.75% in 2027 and 2028, while the September 15 agenda bill and Attachment 7 say 6.25%; staff say 6.25% is the updated rate to be reflected in the budget ordinance and final budget document ¹.

• The Oct. 27 meeting is a study session; no action is requested ¹.
• On Nov. 10, the council will be asked to approve the proposed 2027 property tax levies, a 0.1% criminal justice sales tax, a 0.01% human services sales tax and 2027-28 utility rates ¹.
• On Nov. 17, the council will be asked to approve the operating and CFP budgets and the 2027 fee schedule ¹.
• The packet includes the “Answers to City Council Budget Questions” attachment; staff say the proposed budget’s 7.75% water rate will be updated to 6.25% in the budget ordinance and final budget document ¹.

Why it matters

The agenda lists property tax levies, two sales taxes, utility rates and a fee schedule as items the council will be asked to approve ¹. Analysis: Approval would affect what Bothell residents pay in taxes, utility bills and city fees. The packet’s staff answers also flag that the water-rate figure in the proposed budget document differs from the updated 6.25% rate staff say will appear in the budget ordinance ¹.

What changed / what's next

• The Oct. 27 agenda schedules a fourth budget study session with no action requested ¹.
• The record identifies Nov. 10 and Nov. 17 as dates when the council will be asked to approve budget-related items ¹.
• Nov. 10: council will be asked to approve proposed 2027 property tax levies, a 0.1% criminal justice sales tax, a 0.01% human services sales tax and 2027-28 utility rates ¹.
• Nov. 17: council will be asked to approve the operating and CFP budgets and the 2027 fee schedule ¹.
• Staff say the water rate will be 6.25% in the budget ordinance and final budget document, replacing the 7.75% figure in the proposed budget document ¹.