# SPECIAL Kent City Council Meeting and Workshop - September 29, 2026

The City of Kent’s September 29, 2026 special City Council meeting and budget workshop presented the mayor’s proposed 2027–2028 biennial budget; no budget vote, contract award, or procurement approval occurred. The proposed budget totals $944,215,080 in expenditures, against $937,043,000 in budgeted revenues, and includes an approximately $80.6 million capital program. Capital and technology investments include a preliminary $4 million water-fund allocation toward automated meter-reading infrastructure, continued modernization of the permitting, business-license and tax systems, cloud migration and replacement of aging systems, and funding for the Reith Road West shared-use path to position it for future construction funding.

The proposal also includes $800,000 over the biennium for contracted right-of-way and encampment cleanup, plus a two-year transportation corridor cleanup pilot funded at $125,000 annually through Street Capital and delivered by contract with a nonprofit. The city would bring emergency management in-house in mid-2027, offsetting the position’s cost by reducing its Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority contract. The budget adds $1 million annually for inmate medical care after the current provider gave notice it would discontinue service; no replacement provider or contract award was identified. Council authorization was requested for 20 temporary police positions funded by an HB 2015 grant, which had already been accepted. The budget presentation also cited $3.4 million in additional 2028 B&O tax revenue from a scheduled tax increase. These are proposed budget items pending the council’s budget process; staff requested councilmembers submit questions for follow-up at later workshops and hearings.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Information Technology
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** September 29, 2026

### Sources
- [SPECIAL Kent City Council Meeting and Workshop - September 29, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAeukEy1xR4) - City of Kent, WA