Council recognizes Christmas helpers, continues budget talks

WHITE SALMON — City councilors saw Morella Mora sworn in again, recognized some special helpers and continued budget deliberations during their Dec. 3 meeting.

Back in May, Mora was selected by her seatmates to fill former Councilor Jim Ransier’s seat, and with the results of her uncontested election in November certified, she repeated the honorifics and verbal commitments last Wednesday. Resident Doug Rainbolt, who also ran uncontested, will be sworn in after Councilor Jason Hartmann’s term expires at the end of 2025, and Councilor Ben Giant will return for another term, too.

As part of the consent agenda, councilors then approved a resolution recognizing the people who help bring White Salmon’s annual Christmas tree and menorah lighting celebration to life (see photo on page A4 or gallery at columbiagorgenews.com), and there are many.

By conceiving the Dock Grade ornaments and hanging them each year, Lloyd DeKay, Shari Bosler, Izak Riley, Ryan Kreps and others serve as the “original holiday elves,” while members of Encounter Church are the town’s “baking elves.” Amanda Lawrence introduced the menorah years ago, and new faces, including Dale Grinstead-Mayle, Brianna Wilson, Shannon Cooper, Piper Sullivan, Karissa Moreland, Ivy Carpe and Lisa Smith, energized volunteers to create new activities this year.

As always, the city’s public works crew decorates downtown, and White Salmon’s firefighters ensure that each home is safe for Santa to visit. The Downtown Business Alliance, Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce and Explore White Salmon have also helped the city enhance its holiday spirit. Lastly, the resolution acknowledged the White Salmon Valley Community Library for its annual Wassail gathering and for providing opportunities to craft handmade gifts at the Gorge MakerSpace.

Council subsequently shifted to the budget. Jennifer Neil, director of finance and operations, had already outlined the city’s projected revenues for 2026 and, alongside Mayor Marla Keethler, highlighted key line items in prior meetings, as Columbia Gorge News reported. After incorporating ending fund balances, truing up internal transfers between funds and accounting for a few corrections and additions identified by council, next year’s budget is balanced at $14.6 million in revenues and expenditures, and is unlikely to fluctuate significantly.

About 86% of that total will go toward mandatory services, but all major expenditures, from greatest to least, are estimated as follows: utilities ($6.5 million), public safety ($1.7 million), streets ($811,341), finance and human resources ($710,418), planning and building ($497,496), parks and facilities ($459,047), executive and legislative ($251,805), code compliance ($128,574) and community service ($35,500).

Continuing the public hearing primarily served as an opportunity for council, and residents, to offer feedback to administration, which largely revolved around a written comment submitted by the business alliance.

As a result of changes implemented by Washington’s Department of Transportation, closing streets for community events like Halloween became more resource-intensive this year, running anywhere from $6,500 to $9,000 per event, Keethler estimated, which the city took on for the business alliance and chamber of commerce. The letter encouraged that to continue in 2026.

While there was some concern about the additional costs eating away at White Salmon’s reserves, council also worried the events would disappear without city support, so they directed staff to explore whether any lodging tax revenue could be allocated to the efforts, but strictly for community-based events.

Council held an executive session for labor negotiations with city employees to end last Wednesday’s meeting and will take action on the budget Dec. 17.

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Bingen City Council story online at www.columbiagorgenews.com.