06/15/2017 - Council Adopts Tigard's Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget City of Tigard
Press Release
13125 SW Hall Boulevard Tigard,Oregon 97223 www.tigard-or.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE I June 15, 2017
Contact:
Sharon Gavin
Communications Manager
City of Tigard
(503) 718-2740
sharong@tigard-or.gov
Council Adopts Tigard's Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget
The City Council adopted Tigard's fiscal year 2017-2018 budget unanimously Tuesday during a public
hearing.
The approved and balanced budget provides a detailed accounting summary of how the city will provide
essential services and meet the community's needs. It also highlights the City Council's priorities to make
the greatest positive impact in the community.
"The adopted budget tells residents how we are using the city's limited resources wisely," said Mayor John
Cook. "However, our budget also reflects tough choices that the city faces of eroding day-to-day city
services on our current financial path. Our General Fund supports basic city services like police, library
and parks. Overall,revenues only grow at about 3.5 percent annually while expenses for general services
increase at about 4 percent annually."
The total budget of$218 million across the city's 30 funds is made up of$137 million in appropriated
expenditures that provide for basic city operations like police,library, community planning and building
inspections and city administration, as well as capital projects, and debt service payments. Another$81
million is budgeted in reserves.
The main drivers of this year's budget increase were outside of core city operations. The city is receiving
significant developer contributions for future infrastructure projects,growing the city's reserves from $53
million to $81 million. The capital program, and the transfers that support the capital program, also are
$12 million larger than the prior fiscal year.
Citywide, operational costs are increasing only 3 percent. When savings generated by no longer buying city
water from Portland are removed, the cost of city services is growing by an expected 4 percent.
The city launched an extensive public engagement campaign,including two surveys, to reach out to
residents about Tigard's budgetary issues and the challenges to maintain services at their current levels. The
city's staffing levels have only recently been brought back up to what they were in 2008,when Tigard's
population was about 47,000; meanwhile the city's population has increased by 9 percent.
At their June 13 meeting,the council unanimously adopted a work plan for the newly created Tigard Levy
and Bond Advisory Task Force,which will include 18 residents and business owners who will advise the
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council on future funding options for city services and facilities. This includes exploring the advancement
of voter-approved measures for city services and facilities.
The task force will discuss the local option levy question,holding five meetings monthly through October,
and then study the feasibility of a facilities bond through April 2018.
Copies of the proposed budget adopted by the Council can be found on the city's website at: www.tigard-
or.gov/budget. Approved final copies will be added to the website once they are finalized.
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