Langley City Council to hear public on budget

Langley residents can speak their piece about the 2014 budget at Monday’s city council meeting.

Langley residents can speak their piece about the 2014 budget at Monday’s city council meeting.

One of the major issues for the city’s finances is its sewer and stormwater rates, which were proposed to increase between 3 and 6 percent next year. The city of about 1,050 residents is expected to have about $11.5 million to work with in 2014, about $100,000 more than Langley had in 2014.

The city’s sewer fund is estimated to create about $373,000 in revenue, mostly from service rates, but expenses were figured to surpass that by $54,000.

Langley City Council will convene at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 18, at City Hall, located at 112 Second St.

Other items on the council’s agenda include a first reading of the city’s ethics code ordinance and a first reading of the municipal code fee resolution.

Liquor license renewals are also on tap for Cafe Langley, Prima Bistro, Village Pizzeria and Useless Bay Coffee Company. Though Langley is not empowered to grant liquor licenses — the purview of the Washington State Liquor Control Board — it has the option to object to a liquor license.

The city will also hear a presentation from Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson on a “Buy Local” program, according to the agenda.