The city of Snoqualmie approved its biennial budget for 2017-18 at the Dec. 12 Snoqualmie City Council meeting.

In 2017, the city expects $51,318,788 in total revenue and $50,294,257 in total expenses. Those numbers drop in 2018, when the city expects to bring in $37,661,097 in revenue and spend $29,236,382.

The budget, available on the Finance Office page of the city’s website, details Snoqualmie’s expected revenues and expenditures for the next two years. The budget lists everything from street maintenance, which is expected to cost $1,207,962 in the next year, to police and fire departments, whose expenses are listed at $4,550,807 and $2,618,749, respectively.

On Oct. 10, Mayor Matt Larson posed a letter, addressed to the Snoqualmie citizens, detailing his vision for the budget, to the city’s website. He discussed the economic environment of the next two years, the public safety levy approved by voters in the November election, upcoming infrastructure maintenance needs, environmental sustainability and more.

“Given the potential growth in major revenue sources, and the (council’s) continuing scrutiny of expenditures, the balance between both will stabilize in the new biennium as well as protect critical reserves,” Larson wrote. “Now that our city has just about finished its growth spurt, we continue to struggle with catching up with the accompanying service demands we are facing. With more customers to serve, we must invest in the resources we need to protect the service commitment and community values that are Snoqualmie.”

Nicholas Lee, chief financial officer, said city staff began the budget process in June with an analysis of city operations, to determine what they have accomplished and their goals for the next two years. From there, they proposed budget changes or enhancements to various city programs, to help them accomplish those goals.

“We are trying to make sure we are serving the community at the same level, if not enhancing it,” Lee said.

The staff determined the best mix of services and funding for the next two years, Lee said. They have to make balanced changes to match the services and goals being proposed and to match the mayor’s vision for the budget. Lee said the city council has agreed with the direction the budget will set for the city.

“The council was very on board with the trajectory and vision of the city put forth by the mayor,” Lee said. “We go all the way down to the line items of each department to try to provide them with any information they request and require.”

The city also held six public hearings for citizens to comment and give feedback on the proposed budget before the city council voted on it.

“It’s probably been over 1,000 hours between staff and elected officials that have pored over this and discussed it and investigated it. It’s a collaborative process,” Lee said. “This process is a bit about strategic planning and performance of the city services, we do a lot of work in the management and leadership to make sure we are getting the right people in the right place to do the right thing.”

The mayor’s budget letter and a budget summary are available on the city’s website at www.ci.snoqualmie.wa.us/DepartmentsandPrograms/FinanceAdministration/FinanceOffice.aspx.