Connell balances budget while managing rising costs and unexpected infrastructure expenses

The City of Connell is building its 2027 budget with a general fund of approximately $2.4 million and an overall budget just under $8 million, maintaining relatively stable finances following the closure of the local Lamb Weston facility two years ago.

Rising insurance costs and fuel expenses continue to strain the city’s budget, with insurance increasing 10-11% annually, forcing city leaders to carefully manage spending priorities.

An unexpected $1 million-plus emergency repair at the wastewater treatment plant required the city to declare an emergency and secure a public works loan to finance the project.

CONNELL, WASHINGTON — The City of Connell is working to build a balanced 2027 budget while navigating rising operational costs and managing an unexpected emergency repair at its wastewater treatment facility.

The city currently operates with a general fund budget of approximately $2.4 million and an overall budget just under $8 million. Mayor Shelly Harper said the city has managed to keep its finances relatively stable despite the economic impact of the Lamb Weston facility closure two years ago.

One significant change has helped control spending. The city eliminated its city administrator position, a move that generated substantial savings.

“Then for this year, we cut out our city administrator. So that saved us quite a lot of money there. So our budget this year actually looking pretty much the same as last year. So I think we’re doing really good,” Harper said.

However, the city continues to feel financial pressure from everyday expenses that climb each year. Insurance costs represent a particular burden, increasing 10-11% annually. Fuel costs have also created budgeting challenges.

“We try to, you know, we try to figure out what our revenue is going to be based on years past and interest rates rising and what the cost of insurance is going to be next year. Insurance is the one that really kills us. Every year seems to go up 10 or 11% every year, and that’s a lot. And then of course, like fuel, fuel costs have been just crazy,” Harper said.

Beyond routine operating expenses, the city faced an unexpected financial crisis at its wastewater treatment plant. Damage beneath the liner of one of the city’s sewer ponds forced city leaders to declare an emergency and shut down the pond for repairs. Crews have been working on the project throughout the summer, with repairs expected to cost more than $1 million.

“So we declared an emergency. We were able to get a public works loan to be able to help us finance the million or more dollars to fix that project because it wasn’t in our budget at all,” Harper said.

The emergency repair demonstrates the financial vulnerability cities face when infrastructure fails unexpectedly. The public works loan allowed Connell to address the critical issue without derailing its overall budget.

As the city looks ahead to 2027, officials are focused on completing several road and capital improvements across Connell. Additionally, the city recently signed a new interlocal agreement with the Port of Pasco aimed at attracting more industry and economic development to the region.

Connell’s strategic location offers advantages for business recruitment. The city is 35 miles north of Pasco, near an airport, adjacent to major freeways and served by railroad access through town.

“We’re only 35 miles north of Pasco. We’re in by an airport. We’re by all the freeways. We have the railroad going through town. So we’re in a good location. So we’re hoping businesses notice that and decide to come here someday,” Harper said.

The city is also pursuing grant funding for street and sidewalk improvements, with Harper expecting to hear back about some applications in November. These infrastructure investments, combined with the Port of Pasco partnership, represent Connell’s strategy for supporting future growth while managing current financial constraints.

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