Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.
The budget process for 2024 has begun and is scheduled to wrap up in early December. A balanced budget must be passed by the end of the year.
This will start the formal public budget process for next year. (This will be the sixth budget address for Mayor Franklin. The first was in October 2018)
Mayor Franklin says her budget will be balanced after closing a $13 Million dollar deficit that was looming for 2024 earlier this year.
Structural deficits are not new to Everett. For a decade now the City of Everett has dealt annually with an ongoing structural deficit and that was the case again this year. Back in 2013, former Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson formed a Structural Deficit Advisory Team to deal with the gap of millions of dollars between forecast revenues and forecast expenses. Here’s a letter Stephanson sent to the City Council in March of 2014 regarding the budget problems back then.
There was talk in 2020, prior to the Pandemic, of putting ballot issues before the voters to raise taxes to cover various needs including public safety, parks and operations. The Pandemic and all of the changes and challenges that came with it halted that talk but those conversations are expected to gather steam once this year’s budget process is complete.
Here’s the City of Everett’s outline of the process for public involvement and awareness following the Mayor’s budget address tonight. The City Council meets in Chambers at 3002 Wetmore in downtown Everett every Wednesday night at 6:30 PM.
Budget public input opportunities – Share your ideas on the 2024 budget.
You can attend City Council meetings in person at 3002 Wetmore Ave. or virtually. If attending virtually, please use this online form to sign up to speak at least 30 minutes prior to the meeting.
If you do not wish to participate in a meeting, you can contact your elected officials:
Mayor Cassie Franklin: click here to complete an online feedback form or call 425.257.7115
The City Council: email council@everettwa.gov or call 425.257.8703
City Council meeting
Sept. 20, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Budget Message
Revenue & Expenditure Briefing & Public Hearing
City Council meeting
Oct. 25, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Property Tax Ordinance First Reading, Briefing, and Public Hearing
City Council meeting
Nov. 1, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Property Tax Ordinance Second Reading
City Council meeting
Nov. 8, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Property Tax Ordinance Third & Final Reading
Budget Hearing #1
2023 Budget Ordinance First Reading
City Council meeting
Nov. 15, 2023
12:30 p.m.
Budget Hearing #2
2023 Budget Ordinance Second Reading
City Council meeting
Nov. 29, 2023
6:30 p.m.
Budget Hearing #3
2023 Budget Ordinance Third & Final Reading
Editor’s Note: The City Charter requires the Everett City Council to pass a balanced budget by the end of the calendar year. Here’s a link to the Budget Webpage where you can track the progress and get detailed information on the budget process.
September 20, 2023
Everett