By MICHAEL WHITNEY
Published November 3, 2021

Monroe’s budget stable as city is growing

MONROE — The city’s $106 million proposed budget keeps a steady hand on municipal finances while Monroe continues to grow.
The City Council is scheduled to vote to adopt the budget Nov. 9. Councilmembers have not raised any concerns. Public hearings wrapped up last week with no comments on the budget’s contents.
The city’s general fund, while pays for day-to-day expenses, plans to spend $20.2 million next year.
Utility bill changes for 2022 will be 3% water rate increase, a 12.5% stormwater rate increase and no sewer rate increase.
Mayor Geoffrey Thomas’ budget skips enacting a property tax increase. Rapid new construction is helping buoy property tax revenues.
The city estimates it will have 110 new housing starts in 2022, up from 100 in 2021.
The property tax rate will be $1.02 per $1,000 in assessed property value. For a $400,000 home, this is $408. Overall, Monroe city taxes represent about 11 percent of the entire property tax bill; the fire district, school district, library system, state and county all levy taxes.

Planned projects
Next year, the city plans to continue work on a new City Hall, do a major utility and streets project along North Madison Street, reconstruct Powell Street, improve sidewalks along 179th Avenue SE (Hospital Road) and make intersection improvements where the railroad crosses N. Kelsey Street.
It also plans to install a grant-funded traffic signal at 179th Avenue SE and 147th Street SE, which has EvergreenHealth Hospital on one side of the road and the Monroe School District headquarters on the other.
Another project is to begin installing new wayfinding signs around town.
The city now has almost 20,000 residents.

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