SeaTac City Council members have budgeted $2 million next year to rebuild a fire station, but haven't decided which one.

Lawmakers unanimously approved Dec. 13 an amendment to leave the $2 million in the budget, but exclude naming the station at 3521 S. 170th St. as the one to be replaced.

The action came in the wake of controversy at their Nov. 12 meeting over constructing a new headquarters station in McMicken Heights. That delayed adoption of the city's 2006 budget until the final scheduled meeting of the year.

After sidestepping the fire station controversy, council members approved a $34.1 million general operating budget for next year.

The city expects to take in tax revenue of $23.7 million for the operating budget leaving an ending fund balance of $8.3 million.

In all budgets, the city plans to spend $74.8 million with total tax revenues of $59 million. Ending fund balance is estimated at $42 million.

Lawmakers also passed a 2006 property tax levy rate of $2.77 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Finance Director Mike McCarty said the rate is the lowest the city has ever imposed.

He added the rate is among the lowest among King County cities with their own fire department.

Councilman Joe Brennan argued that the new headquarters fire station should be sited nearer to the business district. The McMicken station is in a residential area. Four properties would need to be purchased at an estimated $1 million to expand the current station.

Councilman Gene Fisher suggested council members discuss alternatives at an upcoming retreat.

City Manager Craig Ward promised his staff would not spend any of the allocated $2 million until a council consensus has been formed.

An additional $3.2 million is planned for station replacement in the 2007 budget.

The 2006 budget was approved 5-2 with Mayor Frank Hansen and Fisher voting against.

Deputy Mayor Terry Anderson and Councilmen Chris Wythe, Ralph Shape, Don DeHan and Brennan voted in favor.

Hansen, in his final budget discussion before retiring after 16 years on the council, said he was disturbed that the city would be spending some of its reserve funds.

"We should not be the least ashamed that we have substantial reserves," Hansen declared. "In most ways, it's a good budget, but you never know when a real rainy day will come."

Fisher also voted against the budget because planned expenditures are more than anticipated tax revenue.

About $13 million was added to the budget at a Nov. 15 council workshop.

Besides $2 million for a new fire station, the added expenditures are $5 million to purchase the former Riverton Heights school, $1 million for prepayment of services to the new SeaTac YMCA facility, $4.8 million for property acquisition in the city's center and $10,651 for emergency preparedness supplies.

In addition, the council also approved four new full-time and two part-time positions.

Lawmakers also approved routine amendments to the city's comprehensive plan.

The council went along with a planning staff recommendation to keep business park zoning along Eighth Avenue South, just south of Des Moines Memorial Drive. The property's owner asked for a change to light industrial zoning to accommodate expansion of a surface park-n-fly lot.

Lawmakers bid farewell to Mayor Hansen, who did not seek re-election after serving on the council since SeaTac's incorporation in 1990.

"It's difficult to see him go," Brennan, also an original councilman, commented. "I will miss Frank very much. I am conferring on him the title, 'Mayor Emeritus.'"

Noting he would stay active in the community, Hansen said, "We have so much to be proud of."

He pointed to a new city hall, improved streets, excellent staff, large fund balances, cleanup of prostitution and drug dealing along the Sea-Tac Strip and "mitigation, not litigation" over Sea-Tac International Airport's third runway.

"Now, it's time for me to ride off into the sunset," Hansen concluded.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-444-4873.