Burien council members are expected to adopt the city's 2008 budget at their Nov. 19 meeting.

The projected spending plan calls for an operating fund of $24.7 million. About half of all expenditures will be for public safety.

Anticipated tax revenue will pay for over 60 percent of the budget, with grants and other revenue sources covering the rest.

Sales taxes account for 36 percent of all local revenue, with property taxes accounting for another 33 percent and utility taxes 16 percent.

Council members will approve the final 2008 property tax levy and surface water management rates before adopting the budget.

Major Capital Improvement Program funding sources are grants, 35 percent; the existing fund balance, 24 percent; street fund, 18 percent; and Public Works Trust Fund loans, 16 percent.

Lawmakers were urged on Nov. 5 by Shelly Goodingham, vice president of the Burien Arts Commission, to increase the city's arts and culture fund that supports non-profit arts and culture groups in Burien.

"Organizations have received critical funding from this fund that helped a wide range of arts projects," Goodingham said.

The arts commission gets $15,000 annually and wants that increased to $29,000.

But, said Councilman Jack Block Jr., "I think that it would be appropriate to discus the arts in next year's budget when we look at policies."

With that, the request failed to make the final budget proposal.

But they will look into health care coverage for the council members at their next meeting.

The health plan could allow money to be used toward general medical expenses such as prescriptions and doctor visits.

Money that wasn't used over the course of the year would roll over to the next and could even be used during retirement should a council member have money left over.

For the coverage to work, all council members would have to enroll.

"I believe that some type of medical coverage or at least an option for the coverage should be available for the people that serve," Councilman Gordon Shaw said.

"One of my concerns is the potential cost and I'm concerned with this coming out at this late of a stage in the budget process," Councilwoman Susan Blazak said.

"I want our citizens to have time to learn about this."