It’s lean times at City Hall, and Tacoma leaders want your thoughts on what to prioritize

The City of Tacoma is facing a $67 million budget deficit for 2021 and 2022, and city officials want your help in deciding what cuts will need to be made.

The City of Tacoma Office of Management and Budget is gathering input on the 2021-2022 budget, and it is seeking opinions about community priorities. Alongside surveys, the office will host an Zoom/Facebook Live open town hall meeting July 23 for people to voice their preferences.

According to budget officer Katie Johnston, the coronavirus has caused a sudden decline in the city’s revenue and a lot of uncertainty. As a result, the budget development office recently projected revenues to the city will fall by $67 million over the next two years. Because Tacoma is held by state law to propose a balanced budget, the city will need to determine how to cut $67 million in expenses.

In 2020, the city has had to make up a $40 million deficit, due in large part to the coronavirus-caused economic downturn, by defunding capital projects, leaving department positions vacant and temporarily laying off employees.

At the moment, the Office of Management and Budget has asked all departments to identify how they could adapt to a 15% budget reduction.

“We’ll look at where the community wants to reduce, maintain or even increase funding, despite the budget deficit,” Johnston said. “We want to get direct feedback on our community’s priorities.”

In previous years, Johnston’s team sought community input by having booths at large, public events at the Tacoma Dome and around the city. Because of the coronavirus, her team’s outreach has moved to the digital realm, both with the July 23 meeting and with surveys where residents can share their thoughts on the City Council and city manager’s seven priorities: racial equity and anti-racism, health, housing, access, community safety, engagement and jobs.

So far, 1,949 surveys have been submitted across the seven categories. The community safety survey has generated the most interest, as 1,030 of them were submitted amid nationwide protests on police brutality, including ones in Tacoma over Manuel Ellis’ death in police custody.

The office also has introduced a new online tool called Balancing Act, which allows a user to present a balanced budget, which then can be submitted to the development team. It also allows for the user to comment money was allocated a certain way.

While the surveys and Balancing Act comments are due at the end of July, Johnston encourages residents to complete as soon as possible, as they will be reviewed in advance of the July 23 meeting.

Mayor Victoria Woodards said residents should take into account all city services when deciding what they think the budget should prioritize.

“We can take all the money and put it into social services programs, but you actually want good infrastructure, crosswalks and roads, too” she said.

The City Council will review the budget proposal the first week of October, then approve a budget prior to Thanksgiving.

This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 11:00 AM.