Message from the Mayor
July, 2010
Tackling Our Financial Challenges
Despite signs of recovery in the nation’s economy, cities continue to experience
severe financial challenges that are expected to continue for some time. In a
recent survey by the National League of Cities, three-quarters of responding city
officials report that overall economic and fiscal conditions have worsened over
the past year. Due to this situation, seven out of ten cities have been forced to
make cuts in personnel and have delayed or cancelled capital projects. More than
half of the officials surveyed expect that municipal service levels will continue to
decrease next year without increases in taxes and fees. (Christiana McFarland,
National League of Cities, State of America’s Cities Survey on Jobs and the Economy,
May 2010)
Tukwila is certainly not immune to these widespread economic challenges. For
the first quarter of this year, sales tax revenues are 25% lower than the budgeted
amount. My administration and the City Council have been working tirelessly
to bring City revenues and expenses to levels that will be sustainable over the
long term, while providing adequate levels of those City services of greatest importance
to the community. This is not an easy task. The strategy being pursued
by the City seeks a balance among increased revenues, decreased programs and
services, and reduced overall labor costs. To the extent we fall short in any one
of these areas, we will have to make it up with the others.
I invite you to participate in the difficult decisions facing your community. A
Public Meeting will be held during the July 12, 2010 City Council meeting, specifically
to solicit your views and priorities regarding City revenues and spending.
Please visit the Budget Challenges page on the City’s website at www.ci.tukwila.
wa.us for additional information and updates on how the City is addressing this
issue and how you can be involved. If you would prefer to access this information
in another way, please call 206-433-1850.
Respectfully,
Mayor Jim Haggerton
