# City of Anacortes - City Council Meeting, 10/26/26 (Zoom Livestream)

At its October 26, 2026 City Council meeting, the City of Anacortes heard the mayor’s preliminary 2027 budget message. The proposed budget is balanced but described as unsustainable, following an initial projected $2.4 million gap. Proposed measures include a 0.1% public-safety sales-tax increase projected to raise $545,000 in 2027, cost reductions and reallocations, and insourcing utility engineering work that could reduce consultant costs by up to $1 million annually. The proposal also includes $8.5 million for a Port City event facility, funded by grants and restricted lodging-tax revenue, and $328,000 for planning and environmental analysis for the Guemes Channel Trail. The council was scheduled to review departmental budgets and hold a public hearing before anticipated budget adoption on November 23; the budget was not adopted at this meeting.

The council approved contract C2026-0255 with E&E Contracting for the 17th Street Drainage Improvement Project, reported at approximately $3.12 million; the project is expected to begin in December and may extend into the next year. It also approved an MOU moving firefighter benefits to the IAFF Health and Wellness Trust, with estimated net city savings of about $100,000, and adopted a miscellaneous billing policy that raises the finance director’s authority to write off uncollectible accounts from $50 to $500. Other procurement-related budget measures included shifting portable-toilet purchasing to a state contract and reducing software and outside-consultant spending.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 26, 2026

### Sources
- [City of Anacortes - City Council Meeting, 10/26/26 (Zoom Livestream)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39hxx5-tUks) - City of Anacortes