SOAP LAKE — The city of Soap Lake is expected to spend about $7.15 million in 2024, according to the proposed budget to be voted on by the Soap Lake City Council on Dec. 20. The proposed budget includes a 5% decrease in spending. Utility rates may be increased in 2024, although that is still to be determined. 

Mayor Alan DuPuy said utility rates are under study; the evaluation includes a look at recommendations made by the city’s engineering firm, Gray and Osborne. 

“We’ve created a committee of some council members, some past council members, some residents to take a look at the water and sewer rates, and look at the study that was given to us by our engineering firm,” DuPuy said. “(The committee will) come with a recommendation to the city council of what direction we should take.”

DuPuy said there’s no time frame for that report.

“I want to allow them to do their work,” he said. “We need to let them really study that, and make the right decision, and come back with recommendations.”

The Gray and Osborne study said the city should be saving some money for upgrades and repairs to its water and sewer systems, and recommended rate increases in 2022 and 2023. 

“We didn’t raise the rates in 2022 or 2023, and really probably should take a strong look at them,” DuPuy said.

Revenue for 2024 is projected at about $7.99 million.

Expenses in the general fund are projected at about $1.53 million, with projected revenue of about $1.76 million. The general fund pays for services like the Soap Lake City Hall staff and operations, and the Soap Lake Police Department. 

The general fund has been bolstered for a few years by transfers from the water and sewer funds. Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Taylor said during a November council meeting that the city levies a tax on those funds, which she estimated at 30 to 35%. 

“Utilities are one of our main sources of revenues - pretty much only (source), I think it’s safe to say,” Taylor said. “So there was a time when the general fund needed money, and those funds had money. And a surcharge, a monthly transfer of money, was put into place.”

With the help of those transfers the general fund is in relatively good financial condition, she said.

“The water and sewer funds also need to save money for projects,” she said. “And that transfer to the general fund is getting in our way of being prepared for some of the projects we need to put into place. So that’s why we’re looking at that transfer and seeing how to get the general fund to stand alone.”

Taylor said city officials are looking for Soap Lake residents who want to get involved in helping to make some of the financial decisions. 

“It’s not a glass tower here,” she said. “We need people who want to come in and help us get the work done.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.