2025-2026 Biennial Budget Development
The City’s 2025-2026 Biennial Budget describes how the City uses its resources to serve the community and reflects a continued commitment to fiscal responsibility. Public trust is essential to every aspect of the City of Tacoma. It is the City’s charge to ensure it is effectively and efficiently managing the resources entrusted to it by the community.
Even with a difficult fiscal environment, building and strengthening public trust remains as essential as the services the City provides to the community. Accomplishing this requires:
- Listening to community. City officials and staff effectively demonstrate understanding & concern for the community’s broad range of needs.
- Being Responsive, Reliable, and Efficient. Commit – and follow through – on services that can be achieved within the current operational capacity.
- Demonstrating Accountability and Transparency. Communicate openly on the City’s actions to address community needs.
The 2025-2026 Budget is the result of careful consideration and thoughtful feedback from the community.
2025-2026 Biennial Budget
The 2025-2026 Biennial Budget advances trust through a $4.7 billion investment in key community services.
2025-2026 Biennial Budget Presentations and Public Hearing
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October 1, 2024
City Manager Elizabeth Pauli provides a General Budget Overview
Starting on October 8, budget presentations offering a deeper dive into how the proposed budget influences each of the City Council’s priority areas will begin. These presentations will take place during City Council Study Sessions.
October 8, 2024
Utilities and Infrastructure (Tacoma Public Utilities, Environmental Services, and Public Works)
October 15, 2024
Community Safety and Alternative Response (Tacoma Fire Department and Tacoma Police Department)
October 22, 2024
Affordable Housing and Homelessness & Economic Development (Planning and Development Services, Neighborhood and Community Services, and Community and Economic Development)
October 29, 2024
Tacoma Venues and Events and Internal Services (Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, City Manager’s Office)
City Council Study Sessions are held on Tuesdays at noon. They can be viewed live in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 1st Floor, Council Chambers) or on TV Tacoma or tvtacoma.com, on the City of Tacoma’s Facebook page, and on Zoom.
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November 19, 2024
First City Council Reading of the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
December 3, 2024
First City Council Reading of the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
December 10, 2024
Final City Council Reading and Adoption of the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
Budget Readings are City Council actions on the 2025-2026 Budget. City Council Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. They can be viewed live in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 1st Floor, Council Chambers) or on TV Tacoma or tvtacoma.com, on the City of Tacoma’s Facebook page, and via Zoom.
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October 29, 2024
First Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
November 19, 2024
Second Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
Public Hearings are held during City Council Meetings on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Public Hearings will be held before the Council’s Budget Readings. Public Hearings and City Council Meetings can be viewed live in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 1st Floor, Council Chambers) or on TV Tacoma or tvtacoma.com, on the City of Tacoma’s Facebook page and zoom. To learn more about how to participate in a public hearing visit cityoftacoma.legistar.com.
On Lightcurve (formerly Rainier Connect), TV Tacoma is available within Tacoma city limits and in Pierce County:
- On channel 512 in high definition
- On channel 12 in standard definition
- On channel 21 in standard definition in University Place
On Comcast, TV Tacoma is available:
- On channel 321 in high definition within Tacoma city limits and in Pierce County
- On channel 12 in standard definition within Tacoma city limits
- On channel 21 in Pierce County
TV Tacoma is not available on Comcast in University Place.
Full agendas – as well as Zoom access details – for City Council Study Sessions, City Council Meetings, and Public Hearings are available at cityoftacoma.legistar.com.
2025-2026 Biennial Budget ‘Balancing Act’ Workshops
Community members were invited to join the City of Tacoma at two virtual workshops to learn more about the biennial budget development process.
At each workshop, the Office of Management and Budget walked through the interactive budget tool – “Balancing Act” – to break down the 2025–2026 Proposed General Fund budget by priority and answer questions. Submissions and feedback were shared with the City Council.
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In addition to the City’s operating expenses, the City Council also considers allocation of resources for substantial investments. These investments, often called capital projects, are planned over a six-year horizon through a document called the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP). This document is mandated by the Growth Management Act (GMA) and shows the City’s desired projects, available resources, and alignment with the Comprehensive Plan. The 2025-2030 CFP can be found in the 2025-2026 Budget Book.
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2025-2026 Budget Financial Details Dashboard: View the budget’s financial details by fund and department for 2021-2022 actuals, Adopted 2023-2024 Budget, and Adopted 2025-2026 Budget.
2025-2026 Budget Departmental Dashboard: View each City Department’s financials by revenue and expense categories, sub-funds, programs, and historic budget vs. actuals.