The Sammamish City Council approved a finalized biennial budget for 2015 and 2016 during a special meeting Monday, Nov. 17 at Sammamish City Hall.

The $193,035,271 biennial budget was approved unanimously following the budget’s second public hearing during which only one attendee spoke. Rachel Vogley, representing Inspire Housing of Kirkland, thanked the council for increasing the city’s support of ARCH housing programs to $60,000 per year, a 25 percent increase.

The budget marks the seventh consecutive year that Sammamish has increased spending, staffing and financial reserves without raising the city’s portion of property taxes, City Manager Ben Yacizi said. Under law, Sammamish is allowed to raise their portion of property taxes — about 20 percent of the overall property tax bill — by one percent, however under Yacizi the city budget continues to turn down that increase.

Across Sammamish’s 11 funds covering expenses such as parks, street, water management and more, Sammamish will end the 2016 fiscal year with about $34 million in revenue, when combined with $65 million in savings and $127 million in revenues against $158 million in planned expenses across the biennial period.

The council also unanimously approved an ordinance setting the 2015 tax levy at an estimated $22,950,000, which represents no increase from 2014. The ordinance expects a levy rate of $2.05 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The council also unanimously passed three ordinances pertaining to the potential annexation of Klahanie. The approved ordinances declare the Klahanie area to be within Sammamish’s potential annexation area, established contingent land use designations for parcels in Klahanie, and a resolution declaring the city’s intent to annex Klahanie following approval by voters, and directing the city clerk to file with King County officials. No formal election date has been set, however city officials are aiming for a special election by the end of Spring 2015.

The next scheduled meeting of the council is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Sammamish City Hall. That will be the only scheduled meeting for December. No agenda has been released, however items expected to be discussed according to the city’s agenda calendar include a public hearing on a tree retention ordinance, a resolution establishing a final plat for Reese’s Run, an a contract related to the design for Big Rock Park.

For more information, call City Clerk Melonie Anderson at 425-295-0511.