Washougal budget up for approval Monday

Washougal will be adding a new police officer and investing in infrastructure if its budget passes Monday.

“Two of the top priorities for the city council and me are to ensure adequate resources are provided for our police department and maintaining our streets,” Mayor Sean Guard wrote in the budget introduction.

The city’s 2016 budget contains $48 million in spending, a $4 million decline from 2015.

The general fund — the city’s discretionary money — is rising by more than $600,000, however.

“A modest use of our unrestricted general fund reserves is proposed for a very important project,” Guard wrote.

That would be a $150,000 expenditure on land use and growth planning.

“This important project will guide our future growth plans,” Guard wrote.

The proposed new officer will bring the police force to 14 officers and the department to 23 people.

One big infrastructure project budgeted is the kickoff of the waterfront trail to downtown through the pedestrian tunnel.

There is also a proposed increase in street maintenance money, a new wastewater employee, sidewalk improvements and Safe Routes to School projects in the 2016 budget.

A vote on the budget is expected at the 7 p.m. city council meeting at City Hall, 1701 C St., Washougal.