Mill Creek City Council Explores Vehicle Fee to Fund Street Maintenance

The Mill Creek City Council is actively considering a proposal to establish a $50 vehicle fee intended to enhance street maintenance, as the city confronts a looming budget gap of $1. 5 million by 2026. City Manager Martin Yamamoto projected that the fee could generate between $294,000 and $736,000 annually from the current 14,730 registered vehicles. The council emphasized that any increase beyond the proposed fee would necessitate voter approval, ensuring community engagement in funding decisions. In addition to the vehicle fee, discussions included the potential benefits of forming a Metropolitan Park district to further address financial challenges.

As budget discussions are scheduled to commence in June, the council aims to explore various revenue options to secure long-term financial stability. Yamamoto cautioned that these discussions would not be the last, highlighting the ongoing evaluations needed to tackle budget challenges effectively. Future meetings will focus on gathering more input regarding the vehicle fee and other financial strategies. The outcome of these deliberations will have significant implications for the city's infrastructure and maintenance efforts.