$3 Million Gap Forces Tough Choices in Burien

“Good feelings aren’t the same as being able to get the budget where we want it,” said Mayor Sarah Moore. as Burien City Council considered four budget-cutting plans at August 6 special meeting. Screenshot courtesy of the City of Burien.

Burien City Council faced a difficult question during its Aug. 6 special meeting: How should the city close a projected $3 million annual budget gap without draining its reserves or cutting too deeply into services?

The discussion came during Patricia Hudson’s first meeting as Burien’s newest councilmember. After taking the oath of office, Hudson quickly joined the budget debate.

Burien expects approximately $42 million in ongoing General Fund revenue but about $45 million in expenses. Staff attributed the gap to inflation, rising service costs, unfunded state mandates and limits on property-tax growth.

Four Options, No Easy Choice

Staff presented four options. Each included about $1.35 million in administrative savings and reductions that staff considered relatively manageable.

Those savings could include budgeting wages closer to actual costs, eliminating state and federal lobbyists, reducing a limited-term administrative position and passing credit-card fees on to people paying for permits, licenses, parks and other city services.

The harder question was how to close the remaining $1.5 million.

Option 1 would avoid using reserves but require the deepest cuts. It could eliminate several limited-term positions, reduce full-time employee hours by 5 percent, cut professional-service contracts and reduce grants, beautification projects and other programs.

Option 2 would use $500,000 from reserves each year and make fewer cuts.

Options 3 and 4 would use $750,000 or $1.5 million annually from reserves while preserving more city services.

Councilmembers appeared to lean toward Options 1 and 2, but the discussion moved back and forth as they considered the consequences. Members generally wanted to protect city reserves, but the cuts needed to do that would affect employees, services and community programs.

Interim City Manager Bob Larson strongly encouraged the council to make as many cost reductions as possible. He noted that previous councils had made deliberate decisions to use portions of the reserves. Continuing to rely on that money for ongoing expenses, however, would only delay the problem.

Making difficult choices now, Larson said, could help the city avoid emergency cuts later.

Health Insurance Change Could Reduce Costs

One idea that drew considerable discussion involved employee health insurance. The city is considering replacing its low-deductible plan with a less expensive high-deductible plan. Burien would then set aside money to cover employees’ additional out-of-pocket costs.

Staff said cities and private employers are increasingly using this approach to lower insurance costs while keeping employees whole and preserving their benefits. Any change would require negotiations with affected employees.

Another Levy After Voters Said No?

Council also discussed whether to pursue another property-tax levy after Burien voters rejected a public-safety levy in November 2025.

No proposal has been developed. Council has not determined the amount, purpose or election timing, and no action was taken Aug. 6.

The council’s discussion will help staff prepare Burien’s preliminary 2027–2028 budget and determine whether to develop possible levy options for future consideration.

View the Aug. 6 meeting agenda and budget materials.

WATCH the full meeting here: