EVERETT, WA – Mayor Cassie Franklin shared her proposed 2024 budget during the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.
“Today, I’m proud to be presenting a balanced budget for 2024,” said Mayor Franklin. “This budget seeks to maintain our current service levels and make some small, but essential, strategic investments in areas of greatest community need.”
In the address, she detailed the financial challenges facing the city and how she worked with her team to prioritize funding, balancing the resource needs of all the essential services the City provides its residents, visitors and businesses.
Public safety remains a top priority. Mayor Franklin included nine, new sworn positions and a new wellness coordinator for the Everett Police Department in her budget. She also included funding to continue the Everett Fire Department’s new, proactive hiring strategy to bring on new employees earlier, which will help maintain staffing levels and reduce overtime expenses.
She also proposed investing $1.1 million of COVID recovery funding back into the community to support social services.
Important quality of life investments were also included in the Mayor’s proposed budget, including key infrastructure projects, improvements for parks, funds to attract and grow special events throughout the city, and more.
“I’d like to thank our City of Everett staff members – all 1,200+ across our twenty city departments. You are the devoted public servants that show up day in and day out to perform all the essential duties that make things happen here. This budget continues to support and invest in your service,” said Mayor Franklin.
To watch, listen to or read the Mayor’s full address, please visit: everettwa.gov/budgetaddress. To learn more about the City of Everett budget process, including opportunities to get involve, please visit: everettwa.gov/budget.
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