On June 7, 2021, the North Plains City Council formally adopted a $39.8 million City budget for the 2022-23 Biennium covering the Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23 (July-June). 

“The City has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic well from a financial perspective and while we remain prudent with our revenue forecasts, this budget acknowledges the priority needs of a growing community,”  says North Plains City Manager Andy Varner. “Our intent is to put North Plains on a solid – and sustainable – financial footing for many years to come so that we can provide exceptional services and quality of life to our residents and businesses.”

This budget was prepared by City staff and recommended for City Council approval by the City's Budget Committee, which reviewed and discussed it in two April meetings. City Council then reviewed the recommended budget and held a public hearing and voted to adopt it at their June 7 City Council meeting. 

In a shift from an annual to a biennial (two-year) budget cycle beginning on July 1, 2021, this budget reflects the city’s goals, priorities, and strategic initiatives. It also incorporates the “Expenditure Control Budgeting” budget management approach adopted by the City in 2020 that breaks from traditional local government budgeting, enabling carry-over of unspent funds by General Fund departments to improve budget management and empower department savings.

Key budgeted priorities and projects include:

• Adding one additional staff position in both the library and in community development;
• Long-term community planning with the next phases of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) study;
• Building road and pedestrian infrastructure from the proceeds of a transportation bond, made possible by the 2020 motor fuel tax approval;
• Investing in a more vibrant downtown with a grant-funded improvement plan;
• Leveraging that effort into a stronger economic development strategy;
• Maximizing Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create more community resilience;
• Implementing the next phase of the Communications Strategy recommendations, to include a branding effort; and
• Utilizing the Urban Renewal Agency (URA) to fulfill the potential of the Glencoe Opportunity Area in the center of the city’s economic corridor.

City Council also adopted a $5.8 million Urban Renewal Agency budget for the 2022-23 biennium. The Urban Renewal Agency was created in 2006 to accomplish a series of goals and objectives established by the community including facilitating the redevelopment of the Glencoe Opportunity Area.

View the full City budget here. For more background about the budget and process read this “The City Budget 101” article on the city’s website.