|
City Council · July 27, 2026
Princeton Council Approves Fee Hikes, Moves Serenity PID Forward
Princeton City Council on July 27 approved a development agreement amendment, accepted a new quarterly budget report, adopted higher development and fire review fees, and advanced the next step for the Serenity public improvement district. The meeting also exposed pressure on the city’s general fund, delays in permit processing, and unanswered questions about how Princeton will staff and pay for growth.
Serenity Development Agreement Amended In 6-0 Vote
After executive session, council voted 6-0 to approve an amended development agreement with Serenity Development. Members did not publicly detail the full changes during the meeting, but Mayor Pro Tem Brian Washington said it was encouraging to have a developer willing to return to the table and negotiate. The amendment could shape how that project moves ahead from here.
Budget Report Shows Strong Reserves But General Fund Pressure
Chief Financial Officer Kelly Wilson told council Princeton remained in a strong overall financial position as of June 30, with $268.4 million in cash and investments and $7.2 million in interest earned so far this year. But she also said the general fund is running below budget on some revenues, mainly because development activity and permit-related revenue have slowed or been delayed.
Property Taxes And Sales Taxes Outperform Expectations
Wilson said property tax collections reached 98.96 percent of the current levy and sales tax collections were still beating budget projections. That gave the city some stability even as other revenue categories lagged. For residents, that means Princeton is still bringing in key money to support day-to-day services, even while budget gaps are showing up elsewhere.
Permit Revenue Lags As Backlog Builds
Development Services Director Shy Roos said permit activity did not disappear, but many permits have not yet been issued. She said a stronger plan review process now takes about 45 minutes per permit, and with only two permit techs, the department has a backlog of nearly 400 permits. That could slow construction schedules for builders and delay related city revenue.
City Eyes Staffing Changes To Ease Permit Bottlenecks
Council members pressed staff on whether hiring support staff could help stop permit work from cascading onto planners, managers, and technical staff. Roos said the department is using planning and permit staff to cover administrative work, which pulls them away from reviews. No staffing change was approved Monday, but the issue was pointed toward upcoming budget talks.
Overtime, Engineering, And Legal Costs Drew Attention
Wilson flagged several major spending drivers in the general fund, including $579,000 in fire overtime, $915,000 in outsourced engineering costs, and $391,000 in legal services. She said departments have tightened spending and added cost recovery measures to help close out the fiscal year. Those costs matter to residents because they affect how far city dollars stretch before taxes or fees are revisited. | 