2025 City Budget

Share 2025 City Budget on Facebook Share 2025 City Budget on Twitter Share 2025 City Budget on Linkedin Email 2025 City Budget link

The City of Ridgefield is preparing its 2025 budget.

The City's Budget represents the proposed fiscal plans for the city. It brings together the direction and policies of the City Council working in a collaborative effort with the citizens, city staff and other interested parties, and best determines the financial resources available to establish the operating and capital plans for the next budget cycle. As a planning and policy document, one fundamental purpose of the City’s budget is to allocate resources that support the community’s vision and priorities.

About Ridgefield's Budget

The City of Ridgefield budgets on an annual basis, in line with the calendar year. The City is required by state law to have a balanced budget.

Some citizens think that all tax dollars and city revenues go into one large pot and can be spent in any way the Council wishes. In reality, there are different pools of money that have specific restrictions over the manner in which they can be spent.

The Annual Budget consists of the operating, special revenue, capital service, debt service and capital funds.

Operating
  • General Government
    • General Fund
    • Street Fund
  • Utility Government
    • Water Fund
    • Stormwater Fund
  • Community Development Building Activities
Special Revenue
  • Drug Fund
  • Affordable Housing Fund
  • Transportation Benefit District
Capital Service
  • Real Estate Excise Tax
  • Park Impact Fees
  • Traffic Impact Fees
  • Water System Development Charges
Debt ServiceThe Debt Service Fund is used to account for the principal and interest payments associated with the General Fund and general governmental funds, such as streets and parks. This does not include debt service associated with enterprise funds.
Capital Funds
  • General Government Fund
    • Covers streets, parks, trails and facilities
  • Water Utility Fund
  • Stormwater Utility Fund
  • Equipment Replacement Fund
    • Covers fleet replacement and heavy equipment


Budget Process

The City budget is prepared by the Finance Director, proposed by the City Manager and amended and passed by the City Council.

The budget process includes meetings with executive management, the Budget Advisory Committee and multiple work sessions with City Council. Prior to development of the budget, Finance staff performs a Financial Sustainability Model to forecast revenue and expense for the upcoming budget year and five years into the future to ensure financial stability, analyze and forecast the property tax levy, personnel salary and benefit costs and labor allocations by department and function. Staff also reviews the financial management and budget policies for potential updates for City Council consideration. Staff also update the following models; Equipment Replacement model, water and storm water rate models, and indirect cost plans.

The Budget Advisory Committee consists of executive management, two council members, and a citizen at large appointed by the Mayor. The City Council holds public hearings on the proposed operating budget before approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on January 1.

The Budget Advisory Committee uses City Council goals and Community Survey results to prioritize funding for new initiatives, capital and services.

Council Adopted Budget Policies: Council has adopted seven organizational goals that provide direction for staff and policy decisions to continue to better serve residents. New services or initiatives are considered based on how they assist in meeting these organizational goals. These policies provide the framework for the budget.

  1. Plan and Manage the Growth of the City
  2. Revitalize Downtown as a Destination Location
  3. Create and Maintain Economic Stability for the City
  4. Assure the City's Infrastructure is able to Meet Growing Community Needs
  5. Retain Culture and History of Ridgefield
  6. Maximize the City's Natural Resources and Attractions
  7. Actively Engage and Communicate with the Ridgefield Community

The City of Ridgefield is preparing its 2025 budget.

The City's Budget represents the proposed fiscal plans for the city. It brings together the direction and policies of the City Council working in a collaborative effort with the citizens, city staff and other interested parties, and best determines the financial resources available to establish the operating and capital plans for the next budget cycle. As a planning and policy document, one fundamental purpose of the City’s budget is to allocate resources that support the community’s vision and priorities.

About Ridgefield's Budget

The City of Ridgefield budgets on an annual basis, in line with the calendar year. The City is required by state law to have a balanced budget.

Some citizens think that all tax dollars and city revenues go into one large pot and can be spent in any way the Council wishes. In reality, there are different pools of money that have specific restrictions over the manner in which they can be spent.

The Annual Budget consists of the operating, special revenue, capital service, debt service and capital funds.

Operating
  • General Government
    • General Fund
    • Street Fund
  • Utility Government
    • Water Fund
    • Stormwater Fund
  • Community Development Building Activities
Special Revenue
  • Drug Fund
  • Affordable Housing Fund
  • Transportation Benefit District
Capital Service
  • Real Estate Excise Tax
  • Park Impact Fees
  • Traffic Impact Fees
  • Water System Development Charges
Debt ServiceThe Debt Service Fund is used to account for the principal and interest payments associated with the General Fund and general governmental funds, such as streets and parks. This does not include debt service associated with enterprise funds.
Capital Funds
  • General Government Fund
    • Covers streets, parks, trails and facilities
  • Water Utility Fund
  • Stormwater Utility Fund
  • Equipment Replacement Fund
    • Covers fleet replacement and heavy equipment


Budget Process

The City budget is prepared by the Finance Director, proposed by the City Manager and amended and passed by the City Council.

The budget process includes meetings with executive management, the Budget Advisory Committee and multiple work sessions with City Council. Prior to development of the budget, Finance staff performs a Financial Sustainability Model to forecast revenue and expense for the upcoming budget year and five years into the future to ensure financial stability, analyze and forecast the property tax levy, personnel salary and benefit costs and labor allocations by department and function. Staff also reviews the financial management and budget policies for potential updates for City Council consideration. Staff also update the following models; Equipment Replacement model, water and storm water rate models, and indirect cost plans.

The Budget Advisory Committee consists of executive management, two council members, and a citizen at large appointed by the Mayor. The City Council holds public hearings on the proposed operating budget before approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on January 1.

The Budget Advisory Committee uses City Council goals and Community Survey results to prioritize funding for new initiatives, capital and services.

Council Adopted Budget Policies: Council has adopted seven organizational goals that provide direction for staff and policy decisions to continue to better serve residents. New services or initiatives are considered based on how they assist in meeting these organizational goals. These policies provide the framework for the budget.

  1. Plan and Manage the Growth of the City
  2. Revitalize Downtown as a Destination Location
  3. Create and Maintain Economic Stability for the City
  4. Assure the City's Infrastructure is able to Meet Growing Community Needs
  5. Retain Culture and History of Ridgefield
  6. Maximize the City's Natural Resources and Attractions
  7. Actively Engage and Communicate with the Ridgefield Community

  • 2025 Proposed Budget

    Share 2025 Proposed Budget on Facebook Share 2025 Proposed Budget on Twitter Share 2025 Proposed Budget on Linkedin Email 2025 Proposed Budget link

    The City of Ridgefield has released its proposed 2025 operating and capital budget. The 2025 proposed budget includes $86.6 million in expenditures and $63.9 million in revenue.

    Public hearings on the 2025 proposed budget will be held at the City Council meetings on November 7, November 21 and December 5.

    Review the 2025 Proposed Budget at https://city-ridgefield-wa-budget-book.cleargov.com/18950

    About the 2025 Budget:

    The City of Ridgefield’s mission is to provide essential public services through a vision guided by seven Council goals. Starting in 2023, the City began an anticipated transition from relying on residential construction related tax revenue to a sustainable commercial retail sales tax structure. With significant commercial development underway, including Costco's 2024 opening and multiple commercial retail stores set to open in the next two years. In 2018–2019, at the City Council’s direction, staff began to increase reserve balances in anticipation of the transition period.

    In response to rising costs, the City Council and staff focused the 2025 budget on essential public services, postponing major additions and focusing on current operations and capital projects. Key infrastructure projects, including the Pioneer widening and roundabout construction and water supply enhancements, are designed to support projected growth over the next twenty years. The budget includes four new maintenance positions and the removal of a sunset on a grant writer position to proactively manage the growth the City is experiencing.

    Ridgefield continues to benefit from its strategic location and is committed to balanced development, economic sustainability, and high priority public services. Efforts to streamline operations, enhance transparency, and track Council goal metrics have modernized City services, keeping pace with community wants and needs.

    The primary mission of the City is to provide highly valued public services to the Ridgefield community. The implementation of Council goals provides the vision while the budget provides the resources necessary to provide these public services.

Page last updated: 01 Nov 2024, 09:23 AM