What Bainbridge’s $154.9 Million Budget Funds for Housing and Water

The two-year budget Bainbridge Island adopted November 10 makes $100,000 available under the Housing Trust Fund rules and directs $15,000 toward unusually high residential water use. Council voted 6–0 for the final budget after defeating two proposals to change how housing money could be spent.

Ordinance 2026-14 covers the 2027–28 budget and the 2027–32 capital improvement plan. The $154.9 million biennial figure includes transfers between City funds. The spending tables put $84.7 million in 2027 and $70.2 million in 2028.

Three different $100,000 decisions

The allocation already in the budget opens a path for community-based affordable housing developers to seek funding under the City’s trust fund rules. Housing Resources Bainbridge told Council that the change restores access to City dollars for projects developed by community organizations as well as support for City-owned projects.

Councilmember Mike Nelson first proposed deleting a separate $100,000 professional-services line from the affordable housing budget. He and Councilmember Lara Lant wanted staff to bring a specific expenditure back to Council. City Manager John Mauro said retaining the line would allow quicker action and reduce administrative work. The motion failed 2–4.

Nelson then proposed moving another $100,000 from general affordable housing money to the trust fund for community projects. That motion also failed 2–4, with Nelson and Lant in favor. Mauro said Council could make further appropriations if a specific need arose. The two votes left the original trust fund allocation in place.

Water, streets, and community services

The budget shifts $15,000 in general-fund money to examine high residential water consumption. Council previously removed the 2029 Olympic Drive Park project from the capital plan. The water allocation pays for analysis. New rates, household limits, or a facility to reuse treated wastewater would require further action.

Council retained the $200,000 Manitou Beach Drive traffic-calming project and asked staff to address climate effects in its description. A proposal to add a full-time hydrologist or hydrogeologist failed on a 3–3 tie.

The adopted revisions also add $75,000 for community services, bringing that two-year allocation to $735,000, plus $125,000 for a community needs assessment and $100,000 toward completion of the Senior and Community Center. The November 10 budget packet contains the spending tables. BIEN’s October budget coverage traces how the housing and water provisions reached the final proposal.