SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake City Council held a budget workshop Saturday to go over the preliminary 2026 budget. No action was taken on the budget. Soap Lake Finance Director Jeff Balentine discussed each of the funds and what he has planned so far.  

Soap Lake’s preliminary budget plans for around $5.4 million worth of revenue and around $5.3 million worth of expenditures.  

The city council will be meeting Nov. 5 to go over the final budget proposal.  

On Nov. 19, the city will have a public hearing to go over the 2026 property tax levy and the 2026 preliminary budget. During the public hearing, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and address any concerns they may have.  

On Nov. 30, the treasurer will submit the 2026 property tax levy certification to Grant County, as long as the council passes it.  

The final public hearing on the 2026 budget is scheduled for Dec. 3. This will be the last opportunity for citizens and the council to address any issues, concerns, or make final changes.  

By Dec. 31, the city needs to have passed a final budget.  

General Fund 

The General Fund is the city's largest fund with around $2.08 million planned in revenues and around $1.9 million planned for expenditures.  

Balentine explained that property tax is the “bedrock” of the city's revenue at around $186,000, which is a 1% increase from 2025.  

Sales Tax Revenue is planned to bring in around $233,000, which is a 2% increase this year.  

Public Safety Sales Tax is planned to generate around $138,000 with a 1% increase.  

Sewage Utility Tax represents the city's largest single revenue source, which is projected to bring in around $443,000, a 2.9% increase from 2025.  

Water Utility Tax contributes around $372,000 and reflects an 8.8% increase from 2025. 

Garbage and Solid Waste Utility Tax has a projected significant decline of nearly 48%, bringing in around $24,000. Balentine said this indicates a reduced collection rate of nearly 5%.  

Building permits are planned to generate around $100,000 for the city. Plan Review and Check Fees have a planned 22% increase bringing in nearly $65,000. 

The city receives a nearly $61,000 federal grant from COPS to assist law enforcement.  

It also receives state-shared revenues from the marijuana excise tax and the liquor tax, which is anticipated to bring in about $14,000. 

Smokiam Campground is back in the ownership of the city, and Balentine predicts it will bring in nearly $77,000 to the city in revenues.  

The city also leases a phone tower, which brings in an annual payment of nearly $22,000. 

Balentine explained that the 2026 budget reflects a return to normal operations with the elimination of: one-time transfers from special funds, ARPA and COVID-19 relief funding, and significant miscellaneous revenues from asset sales.  

The preliminary 2026 budget has a 13.3% decrease in expenditures, with a budgeted expense of nearly $1.9 million. In 2025, the city budgeted around $2.2 million for General Fund expenses.  

Law enforcement is one of the city's top priorities, with nearly 40% of the general fund going to the Soap Lake Police Department for operations. This includes nearly $575,000 in salaries, about $180,000 in benefits and around $76,000 for administration of salaries and benefits. Additional funds of nearly $105,000 are planned to go towards the Multi-Agency Communications Center fees, uniforms, equipment, vehicle operations and training.  

Around $7,800 is budgeted for the mayor's compensation, which includes salary and benefits. About $6,000 is budgeted for city council salary and benefits.  

Around $103,000 is budgeted for the finance department, including salary and benefits. This is a 3% salary increase from 2025. Professional services are budgeted for nearly $12,000, which is a significant decrease from 2025’s budgeted amount of nearly $126,000. There are no audits planned for 2026, so no funds have been allocated.  

Parks and Recreation has nearly $107,000 in planned expenses. This includes park maintenance, facility operations, equipment and supplies.  

Building and development services have nearly $98,000 of expenses planned for building inspections and planning services.  

Technology and communications have nearly $49,000 allocated for computer services, telephone services, office supplies and office operations. 

Facilities and utilities, which include the city’s insurance, utility services and janitorial services, have an estimated $41,000 in expenses. This includes city hall operations and the James Tavern building.  

The city has planned to pay around $91,000 for debt obligations out of the general fund, including the limited obligation bond principal, vehicle financing and equipment financing.  

Balentine said the above budget positions Soap Lake for stable operations while building reserves. He strongly encouraged City Council members to set up a policy for a minimum fund balance. The projected ending fund balance for 2026 is around $487,000, or around 26% of expenditures.  

“The 2026 expense budget demonstrates our commitment to public safety, responsible financial management and maintaining the quality services our residents expect while building financial stability in the future,” Balentine said.  

Other funds  

The city has seven other main funds outside of the General Fund; however, they are dedicated to specific expenses.  

The Street Fund has anticipated around $257,000 worth of revenue and about $200,000 worth of expenditure.  

The Benevolent Fund, which, according to the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, is used to provide assistance to firefighters, their families, and people in need. The city is planning to bring in around $2,000 in revenue with no planned expenditure.  

The Stadium Tax Fund is used to fund sports venues, cultural programs, affordable housing, and other public projects. The city has planned around $43,000 in revenue and around $58,000 in expenditures. 

The Real Estate Excise Tax is used to fund local-level capital projects, including infrastructure, parks, law enforcement facilities and affordable housing. The city has planned for about $57,000 in revenues and around $29,000 in expenses. 

The Transportation Benefit District helps fund transportation projects, including roads, sidewalks and transit services. The city has planned for about $87,000 in revenues and around $96,000 in expenditures. 

The Water Fund has around $1.1 million budgeted for revenues and about $1.1 million in expenditures. 

The Solid Waste Fund has about $490,000 planned for revenues and nearly $487,000 planned in expenses. 

The Sewer Utility Fund has around $1.3 million planned for revenues and about $1.4 million planned for expenses.