Title
Development of a Priority Based Budget Briefing
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the development of a Priority Based Budget.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the development of a Priority Based Budget.
Staff Contact:
Debbie Sullivan, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8499
Presenter(s):
Debbie Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to enhancing fiscal responsibility, resilience, and ensuring our resources are aligned with the priorities of our community, the City is implementing a Priority Based Budgeting (PBB) process. It is a strategic approach to budgeting. It aligns resources and funding with community priorities and outcomes.
This project will improve financial transparency because PBB transforms our current budget into a budget that is organized by Programs and Services rather than individual departments. It builds upon the traditional line-item budget approach by developing data sets to allow decision makers to see what programs are being offered, how much it costs to deliver those programs, and why those programs are being offered. This will also make it easier to communicate with the community what we do, why we do it, and how much it costs.
The City contracted with Tyler Technologies to support the development of a Priority Based budget. In February 2025 the City launched the implementation. This agenda item will provide the Committee with an update on the project timeline related to data analysis; the Recommendation, Opportunity, and Insights (ROI) Report; public communication; and the next steps on how to use this information to achieve a long-term sustainable budget.
Climate Analysis:
The Priority Based Budget will be developed using scoring criteria that incorporates the City’s Climate framework.
Equity Analysis:
The Priority Based Budget will be developed using scoring criteria that incorporates the City’s equity framework.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Priority Based Budgeting aligns our investments with the Community’s priorities as articulated in the Comprehensive Plan. The City organized the Comprehensive into six focus areas - Public Safety, Community Livability, Economy, Environmental Stewardship, Well-Planned City, and Organizational Excellence. PBB will demonstrate how we are investing to advance the goals in each of these areas.
Financial Impact:
The cost to the General Fund for Priority Based Budgeting software and consultant support is $134,750.
Options:
1. Receive a briefing on the development of a Priority Based Budget.
2. Do not receive a briefing on the development of a Priority Based Budget.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
None