Special City Council Meeting of September 29, 2026

The City of Lake Stevens held a special City Council budget workshop on September 29, 2026, to introduce the mayor’s preliminary 2027 budget and begin department reviews. Officials described a structural general-fund deficit and a goal of slowing the financial decline in 2027 and stopping it in 2028. The preliminary budget assumes current service levels and includes a projected $576,800 in surface-water utility tax revenue. The finance director explained proposed fund transfers, including $2.5 million from reserves to the general fund and $1 million from reserves to the permitting fund. Council discussion and deliberations will continue; no motions or votes were reported.

Highlighted budget items included an estimated $80,000 ADA website update, a $1,500 ITE manual, a $25,000 engineering standards update split between surface water and streets, and a $70,000 second-phase surface-water rate study. A parks operations manager reclassification was estimated at about $30,000. Police officials reported discontinuing a contract with Bridge Coordination Services, identifying lower-cost vendors for ballistic vests and firearms, and reviewing vehicle replacement intervals to reduce long-term costs. A procurement and grant specialist and other staffing requests were presented as requests, not funded additions in the mayor’s preliminary budget. Capital projects were deferred for a later budget discussion. No procurement awards or bid approvals were identified.