MUKILTEO Mayor Joe Marine presented the city’s proposed spending plan for the 2027–2028 biennium on Monday, a blueprint that calls for expanding the municipal workforce while retaining sufficient financial reserves to satisfy local policy.
The proposal outlines general fund allocations of approximately $20.1 million for 2027, rising to $21.6 million in 2028. Marine told the council that the city is positioned to create eight new positions over the coming two-year cycle.
Officials stated that the plan would conclude the 2028 fiscal year with a general fund balance of roughly $4.6 million. This figure exceeds the city’s reserve mandate by about $1 million; policy dictates that Mukilteo must hold at least two months of operating expenses in reserve.
"We remain deliberate and cautious in our hiring practices to preserve our lean operations, we also recognize the need to add positions that support critical functions across the city and ensure that we have the capacity to continue providing high-quality services to our community," Marine told the council.
The proposed budget includes staffing additions for the police department, the planning department, and city administration.
Police Chief Andy Illyn informed the council that funding is allocated for a new bureau commander and an additional traffic officer. The plan also increases funding for body-worn cameras, jail fees, and the replacement of approximately a dozen patrol rifles.
"We have about 10 or 12 that look like they're from the movie Apocalypse Now, they're pretty old," Illyn said.
Planning Director Andrew Galuska noted that the budget includes funding for a new building inspector to assist with code enforcement and shorten permitting timelines.
City Administrator Steve Powers stated that the budget allocates funds for a full-time human resources analyst, noting that Mukilteo currently relies on a single HR official to manage a workforce of 140 employees. The budget also includes funding for a part-time public records official to assist with request processing.
"That can be a crushing workload at times, and it's very difficult for one person to manage that," Powers said.
Fire Chief Glen Albright reported that staffing levels for the fire department will remain static. This decision aligns with the city's evaluation of the department's long-term sustainability, as it currently relies on transfers from the general fund.
In the future, the city may present voters with options to bolster the department, such as increasing its own levy rate or merging with a regional fire authority. Officials noted that the current EMS levy remains the lowest in Snohomish County, despite a voter-approved increase last year. Members of the firefighters union have advocated for joining a regional entity, such as South County Fire, to ensure adequate staffing.
The budget includes funding for a $1.5 million fire engine. The city intends to finance the purchase through the LOCAL Program, which spreads payments over a 10-year period.
Budget deliberations are expected to continue for several weeks. A city memo indicates the council is scheduled to vote on the final budget at a meeting on Nov. 16.