WARDEN — The Warden City Council held its preliminary budget review Tuesday night. The presentation was strictly informational with action to be taken by council at upcoming meetings. The city must pass its budget by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. 

“We are going to go over the summary of the preliminary budget, as required by state statute to have a preliminary budget and revenue sources, as well,” City Administrator Kriss Shuler said.  

General

The General Fund supports essential services and general activities for Warden. This includes administration, city hall, planning, police, parks, community center, library and central services for the city.  

The city's preliminary budget expects a beginning balance of around $719,000.  

The majority of the funding for the general fund comes from property tax and sales tax at nearly $1.3 million, licenses and permits at around $46,000, intergovernmental at about $264,000, charges for services at nearly $2,000 and miscellaneous at around $92,000. In total the city is expecting nearly $2 million in revenues for the General Fund. Around 20% of a percent in Grant County sales tax supports the police department expense. The State of Washington distributes this to cities.  

Warden expects to spend around $2 million out of this fund in 2026. This includes expenses for two larger projects including the comprehensive plan update and capital purchases.  

This would leave the city with an end balance of nearly $744,000.  

Shuler said the budget is 2.5% higher than in 2025. 

Water and Sewer

The Water and Sewer Fund is used for all water and sewer facilities, including any capital projects. The beginning fund balance is expected to be around $4.6 million.  

The city expects to bring in around $7.2 million of revenue. This includes around $4.2 million from intergovernmental, $2.1 million for charges from services, $215,000 from miscellaneous and a transfer into the account of nearly $637,000, most of which comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds.   

ARPA provides funding for infrastructure. The city funds are obligated to the booster station project. The nearly $624,000 in funds will be transferred to the water fund to be spent. The city plans to spend all of the fund in 2026. 

Currently, Warden is rebuilding the water booster station, planning the replacement of nearly 18,000 feet of water pipeline and working on a sewer planning project and a reservoir seismic investigation project.  

The city expects to spend around $6.9 million in 2026. This will leave around $4.8 million as the end fund balance for 2026.

Shuler said the 2026 budget is a 43% increase compared to 2025. 

Street 

The Street Fund is solely for street and roadside operation and maintenance. The city is expecting to begin the year with around $1.5 million in the fund. 

A majority of the funding comes through local taxes, state and federal dollars. The city is expecting to bring in around $317,000 from taxes, about $1.5 million from intergovernmental and nearly $72,000 from miscellaneous. This brings revenues to around $1.9 million. 

The city plans to spend around $1.9 million. This money would go towards projects, including the walking path and First Street North renovation.  

This would leave the city with an end balance of nearly $1.5 million. 

Shuler said the fund saw a budget decrease of 57% from 2025. 

Cemetery

The Cemetery Fund is funded via the cemetery district, services and local dollars. The money is used for upkeep in the cemetery.  

The starting balance for the fund is expected to be around $29,000.  

The city plans to bring in around $93,000 in revenue. This includes around $32,000 from intergovernmental, $15,000 from charges for services and a $45,000 transfer into the account.  

The city has budgeted around $100,000 in expenses, which include facility maintenance, labor, services and water use charges. The budget for this fund stays roughly the same from year to year, Shuler said. Changes may occur depending on previous labor trends.  

The end fund balance is expected to be around $22,000. 

Shuler said the budget is around $12,000 lower than in 2025. 

Water Improvement

The Water Improvement Fund is used for immediate or planned water system needs. The fund is expected to start the 2026 year off with around $1.8 million.  

The city is expecting around $156,000 in revenue. This includes around $5,000 for services, $71,000 for miscellaneous and an $80,000 transfer in.  

The city is planning on spending around $80,000 with an expected end fund balance of nearly $1.9 million.   

Sanitation 

The Sanitation Fund covers the operation of garbage collection. The City of Warden contracts its services. The beginning fund balance is expected to be around $114,000.  
The city expects to make around $813,000 in revenue. This includes around $809,000 in service fees, and $3,500 is miscellaneous. The city collects the fees from the customers for the contract fees, state excise tax fees and services provided, Shuler said. 

The city expects to spend around $833,000 with an expected fund balance of nearly $93,000. 

Shuler said this will be a 10.2% increase from 2025 due to increased costs and increased commercial services. 

    Warden City Administrator Kriss Shuler went through the preliminary 2026 budget with the city council Tuesday night.
  

    Warden Mayor Rosaelia Martinez said she had no further questions on the preliminary 2026 budget after City Administrator Kriss Shuler presented.