Edmonds mayor makes first pitch of plan to fill $20.5M budget deficit

EDMONDS — The city’s 2024 budget seemed balanced enough, with $51.9 million in general fund expenses and $51.1 million in projected revenues.

The catch?

To get there, Edmonds had to use $12.5 million in one-time funds and $8 million from the city’s emergency reserves.

Last year, the council approved using $6.25 million in federal COVID relief money to pay its annual contract with South County Fire. The city also saved $3.2 million through a hiring freeze last year, but those positions will likely need to be filled again, Mayor Mike Rosen said at his State of the City address in late March.

On top of dipping into reserves and using COVID relief dollars, the city also spent $3 million on so-called “unbudgeted expenses” this year, such as union contracts, police technology, library repairs, new finance software and more. Altogether, this leaves Edmonds with a $20.5 million hole not covered by the city’s projected revenue.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/edmonds-mayor-makes-first-pitch-of-plan-to-fill-20-5m-budget-deficit/