Following a recent financial forecast for its 2027-2028 Biennial Budget, the City of Tacoma has continued to work on its “Roadmap to Recovery” – a proactive, multi-year strategy to protect core services, balance the budget, and secure Tacoma’s long-term fiscal health. Today’s City Council study session update highlighted the ongoing impacts of compounding macroeconomic pressures on municipal operations and the measures required to address these impacts:
- General Government’s hiring freeze has identified positions that will be held through the end of the year to generate $7.4 million in savings.
- One vacant deputy city manager position will be left unfilled.
- Structural savings over time will continue to be a priority as the City looks for new ways to work and deliver value to the people of Tacoma.
- The City will merge the Environmental Services and Public Works departments into one department overseen by one department director, effective January 1, 2027.
- The City’s human services, housing, and homelessness response staff will work together as a team within the Neighborhood & Community Services department, while its labor relations staff will become a part of the Human Resources department, and its Continuous Improvement staff will join the City Manager’s Office.
The City will continue approaching its challenges from a foundation of sound fiscal management, and remains committed to addressing these challenges with caution and deliberation.
Community members are encouraged to remain engaged throughout the City’s biennial budget planning process. The latest details are available in the latest Talking Tacoma: Roadmap to Recovery podcast and at tacoma.gov/roadmaptorecovery.