Before the La Conner Town Council approves the 2022 annual budget Dec. 14, it will hold a public hearing during its Tuesday meeting. The hearing is listed under unfinished business near the start of the 6 p.m. meeting. The council will then vote on an ordinance to approve the 2022 budget. The meeting will be over Zoom only.

Council will vote on its 2022 agreement with Skagit County Sheriff’s Office immediately before the public hearing. The agreement is for the years 2022-2026 with $338,547 “the cost for contract services provided from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022,” the budget year, a 2.25% increase from 2021 as stated in the council's meeting packet.

The agreement’s costs will be amended annually, with the Sheriff’s Office notifying the Town of projected successive year costs each Sept. 15.

Next year’s budget projects a deficit of $426,795. Revenues are estimated at $5,067,992 and expenditures at $5,494,786. The 8.4% deficit is covered by the Town’s fund balance, a very healthy $4,747,966. Town policy is to maintain the fund balances equal to 20% of operating revenues. All figures come from the 2022 Town budget made available to council last week.

The federal coronavirus grant adds $132,456 to the general fund.

Budget expenditures includes $113,000 for code enforcement, $88,000 in wages, benefits and support costs and $25,000 for a vehicle.

Total law enforcement expenditures are $451,547, 40.1% of general fund expenditures of $1,127,003.

No residents spoke at the Nov. 22 budget public hearing held on Zoom as part of the council meeting.

The town has a calendar fiscal year.

The council packets for the meeting are at Town Hall and via the homepage of the Town’s website: townoflaconner.org/. Clicking on the calendar in the lower left corner takes you to the packet and Zoom link.

The meeting is on Zoom only. The link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82130712743?pwd=UUk3NUpsU3JydlhiNngrSjf PcjNBQT09

Meeting ID: 821 3071 2743; Passcode: Jqx8Gw

Phone Number: 1-253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 821 3071 2743; Passcode:285061