A Message from the Mayor of Edmonds

Greetings all! It remains my great privilege to serve as your Mayor. The charm of Edmonds lies in its people, those who call it home and those who work here.

The Budget Conundrum

As you are aware, our city grapples with a budget deficit. The predicament stems from revenue growth not keeping pace with increasing service costs. Why, you might ask? There are several reasons:

• A state-imposed cap of 1% annual growth in property tax unless voter approved.
• Costs for services and goods, like insurance, have soared by 39% from 2023 to 2025.
• Maintenance for roads, pavements, and parks has been deferred.
• A competitive job market makes hiring and retaining city staff a challenge.
• Service levels have increased over four years, maintaining the new 8-acre Civic Playfield and Highway 99’s lush medians.

Actions Taken So Far

To mitigate these issues, we’ve taken several steps:

• Staff and programme reductions.
• Deferred maintenance for capital projects.
• Use of reserve funds.
• Internal borrowing.
• Exploring fresh revenue streams.

This year, the Edmonds City Council voted to introduce Proposition 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot. This proposition seeks to authorize a $14.5 million property tax levy lift, earmarked for enhancing the following sectors:

• Police
• Parks
• Planning
• Streets
• Sidewalks

In tandem with this, we’re pursuing additional revenues, approximately $5 million, from non-property tax sources.

Proposition 1 Details

The levy amount is underpinned by four key factors:

1. Community priorities: Residents’ voices on quality of life.
2. Legal mandates: Basic services mandated by law.
3. Asset condition: Assessments of city services and infrastructure.
4. Regional comparisons: Comparing with similar cities and their funding strategies.

Town Hall Meetings

We shall be hosting three Town Hall meetings this autumn. These sessions will elucidate our budget, levy proposal, and the decision-making process. Join us at the Brackett Room, City Hall:

• Thursday, Sept. 25 – 3-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 9 – 7-8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 25 – 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

For more details, including property tax calculations and FAQs, visit the City of Edmonds website.

Looking to the Future

This autumn, Edmonds residents will vote on Proposition 1. It allows the community to dictate the level of future public services. I urge you all to engage, inquire, and participate in the decision-making process. Your opinions matter profoundly.

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Thank you once more for your unwavering support and involvement. Cheers!