EPHRATA — Balancing requests and revenues, what can and should be done in 2027 and what can wait was the subject of a budget discussion at the Ephrata City Council meeting Wednesday. 

Kristen McDonnell, Ephrata's finance director, said projected revenues don't match up with requested expenditures. Projected 2027 revenues are about $30.15 million, she said. Requested expenditures are about $34. 66 million.  

"We're shy by about $4.5 million, but we're asking for $6.9 million in those capital projects," she said. 

It's up to the council to determine which projects will be part of the 2027 budget, and which won't, she said. She included a list of potential projects and related costs, and asked council members to rate them by importance.  

The city's general fund prompted a question about priorities.  

Projected general fund revenue is about $7.02 million, and proposed expenditures are about $7.11 million, leaving a deficit of about $87,200. The city has about $120,000 in general fund capital expense requests, she said.  

"Cutting out capital expenditures solves the variance," she said. "What I'm asking is, do you want to cut out all the capital expenditures or do we want to be using one time money from the PUD tax for capital expenditures?" McDonnell asked.  

She estimated the city would receive somewhere between $2 and $2.5 million in revenue related to the development of the new maintenance facility under construction by the Grant County Public Utility District. 

Council member Matt Moore asked parks director Josh Johnson which projects he would prioritize from the list provided by McDonnell. Johnson cited the upgrades to the Patrick Park playground as an example of the decisions that have to be balanced against each other and budget reality. Johnson asked for $250,000 for the Patrick Park project. 

"We already have just under $200,000 in matching funds for that project," Johnson said. "In order to maximize what we can do – which is, basically, pull out everything and build a brand-new park, ADA-accessible, cover all age ranges – that's probably my (priority)," he said. 

Moore said the fact the city has a grant for part of the project is one of the complicating factors. McDonnell cited the work of Dave Bren, the city's project engineer and grant writer, who she said has been instrumental in obtaining grants for city projects. Moore said the grants present a dilemma. 

"When you say 'I've got a million dollars for streets or roads – or whatever – but it needs $100,000.' And we're like, 'Ah, better luck next time.' That's not something I'm prepared to say," Moore said.  

Council member Valli Millard said the city needs to take advantage of its opportunities. 

"I feel like we have to maximize every time we have an opportunity to do that," she said. We can't afford to leave that on the table." 

Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns cited another example of balancing priorities, EFD requests for a new generator and a study of the city's emergency services. The generator would be a high priority, Burns said. 

"But honestly, the direct return would be the EMS consultant, because that would figure out a way of financing EMS," Burns said. "That in return frees up general fund dollars, which we take right out of it, about $115,000 a year budgeted." 

Moore also asked about pending plans for a former commercial building on Basin Street Southwest, which was purchased with the intent of remodeling it for municipal offices.  

"We've come up with every kind of scenario we can think of for different funding mechanisms," Moore said. "Do we have other plans in mind, or do we need to be socking away what savings we come across as we come across it?" Moore asked.  

"So, the answer is yes," said City Administrator Ray Towry.  

There are financing options available, everything from interfund loans to state capital budget requests, Towry said, as well as putting aside city money for the project.  

Moore said the project has been pending for a while. 

"We haven't really set forward a true timeline. My main goal is to make sure whatever we do doesn't really cost the taxpayers much, if possible," Moore said. "I don't know whether you and the mayor have had discussions on what kind of timeframe we can realistically have for what we're trying to do." 

The city hired a consultant to evaluate the project; members of the consulting team have talked to council members once, and Towry said they'll be back before the end of the year. 

"They'll present you about the first phase, and when they get done with that, they'll come back with the second phase, which should have a solid number for us. That'll tell us which direction we need to go," Towry said. 

There isn't a timeline, at least not yet, Towry said, but city officials are hoping to have one soon.  

"They gave us roughly a four to six-month timeline to do the initial (planning)," he said. "They'll do the initial, then another three-ish months. You could be looking at a final design, hopefully by June." 

    Josh Johnson, Ephrata Parks and Recreation director, lays out some ideas for the future during a budget hearing last month. Parks and Recreation capital requests were part of a larger discussion of grant funds, city funds and balancing budgets Wednesday.