The Ocean Shores City Council on Thursday will begin an all-day review of the proposed 2017 city budget, which includes an expected General Fund beginning balance of $1.08 million, just slightly less than the same figure at the start of 2016.

In sending her recommended budget to the Council on Sept. 29, Mayor Crystal Dingler said the overall financial goal was to grow the General Fund Balance to about $1.5 million.

The city will benefit on the revenue side, Dingler noted, because it has been able to recover property tax lost through error two years ago, “which in turn allows us to take the Library back into the General Fund and eliminate the need for a library levy lid lift after 2017.”

“After what appears to be a correction in tourism income in 2016 after the 2015 bumper year, it appears that the City still has some distance to go before fully rebounding from the Great Recession,” Dingler’s budget message concludes. “We still have a heavy debt burden from spending begun in the 2007-2008 time frame, but with the continued reduced employee count and the grants we have received, we are able to deal with the debts. Fortunately, most of those debts are paid off within the next 10 years. Also, we expect our interfund loans, once over $2 million, to end 2017 at under $260,000. And, hopefully, we have learned a lesson in funds management that a recession can happen any time and changes everything.”

Dingler outlined a number of proposed new items she hopes to purchase for the city next year. In particular, the mayor said, the city is trying to catch up on delayed replacement of equipment and vehicles, earmarking money that will be available from the countywide sales tax approved in August.

Here are some of the items:

• Four Police vehicles. “We began replacing Police vehicles last year as our repair and maintenance costs of the old vehicles made them a financial liability. The costs associated with this purchase, equipment and set-up of the cars has been allocated to the .03 of 1 percent sales tax for public safety passed in 2016.”

• The city also will use the county tax proceeds to purchase portable radios, tasers, car consoles, mobile data terminal cradles and new radios for the new patrol cars.

• A new ambulance and two new heart monitors. “We purchased a new ambulance two years ago and need to replace the next oldest unit. Our heart monitors are over 10 years old and lack the sophisticated capabilities of new units,” the mayor said.

• A new side-mount mower and zero-turn mower. The side-mount mower will supplement the work done by the brush cutter, “increasing the potential that we will be able to mow every street in Ocean Shores,” according to Dingler.

The mayor and city staff also propose to use General Fund money for a variety of purposes:

• $35,000 into the Council’s Contingency Fund

• $25,000 into the Abatement Fund (Repair and Demolition Fund)

• $16,500 for Parks maintenance (in addition to volunteer help)

Taken out of this year’s budget was an $80,000 request to hire an additional Police officer.

“We have too many deferred Police vehicle and equipment needs now,” Dingler said.

Also eliminated were $80,000 for two more heart monitors and $10,000 for Spring Cleanup, which proved to be a popular program in 2016.

There is a proposed $500,000 transfer from the General Fund to the Street Fund to “do the minimal work we are able to do in 2017.” Project work includes: $100,000 for various asphalt failure repairs; $10,000 for shoulder rock; $41,000 for street striping and road side vegetation control; $20,000 for beach approach maintenance; $10,000 for street signs.

Dingler said the city’s outlook remains positive: “Our Standard &Poors long term rating for limited tax general obligation (GO) refunding bonds remained at a stable A+ based on our ‘strong budgetary performance.’ S&P said “recent operational results have been positive for the city with general fund surpluses reported in each of the past four fiscal years.” Strong liquidity also was mentioned as a positive factor. On the negative side, the city’s debt and contingent liability position is weak.

“In other words, we still have a ways to go to solidify our position into a stronger standard. This will be done by continuing the course on budget performance and paying off debt as quickly as possible,” Dingler wrote.

The city also has begun design work on the Pt. Brown revitalization: “Our design firm has met with all businesses to discuss their individual needs. Next steps will be to incorporate business and property owner needs into the preliminary design and move into the design effort itself and meet with the general public.”

Dingler also singled out sales and development at the Oyhut Bay project. “The condominiums are all sold and we are in discussions on additional commercial buildings,” Dingler said.

Grants for 2017

• Razor Clam Bridge — $3.6 million. Construction to begin in late 2016 through 2017.

• Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant — $1.4 million. This grant funds a total of 7 new positions for two years. Funding began in 2016 and continues through 2017.

• FAA- $940,000. The city completed airport repair and maintenance in 2016.

• Safe Routes to School — $770,000. Add to the bicycle and pedestrian pathways by extending the paved path from the Ocean Lake Bridge to Taurus Avenue.

• Pt. Brown Sidewalk Project — $440,000. This combination of several grants will fund the design of the project, including sidewalks, lighting, parking, and storm water needs.

• USDA — $35,000. This feasibility study for the high dune trail is complete and the city is seeking construction grants.

• Rose Foundation grants — For testing the waters in fresh waterways that began in 2016, and for funding work on the Weatherwax Mitigation Land Bank.

• State Supplemental Budget — $200,000 provided to the Dept. of Ecology to fund additional research on Pacific Ocean shorelines.

• State Dept. of Ecology — Shoreline Master Planning should be complete in2016.

• State Dept. of Ecology — $16,000, for materials and installation of the sand fencing.

The all day-budget review begins at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Ocean Shores Lions Club, with public comment scheduled during the morning and afternoon sessions.