2013–2014 BIENNIAL BUDGET - the City of Tukwila

2013-2014 Biennial Budget City of Tukwila, Washingtonpublic safety, enhance the appearance and value of our neighborhoods, and attract and retainbusinesses.Financial SustainabilityFinancial sustainability is the major theme for this biennial budget. In the early discussions with theCity Council, we confirmed the City’s commitment to create a better financial future for ourcommunity through the actions we take today. We have focused on living within our means,providing a safe community, making long-term investments that will result in ongoing savings, andinvesting in programs and services that help the City improve efficiencies, reduce redundancies, anddeliver exceptional customer service.Balanced Six-Year Plan – Build Reserves, Maintain Services, and Invest in Public SafetyPer Council direction, this budget provides for a true reserve fund that will ensure the City is betterable to weather future economic downturns or emergency situations. This budget maintains the levelof services from the last biennium by holding the line on additional staffing and services andstrengthens the City’s service capacity in areas of most need as identified by City Council,Administration and our citizens while maintaining all other levels of service.Invest in Public Safety ServicesThe difficult economic situation in the prior biennial budget process in 2010 required the eliminationof several positions throughout the City, including some services in the Police Department.Fortunately and with Council support, in 2011 the City added three new officers and in August 2012,the City reaffirmed its strong police presence on Tukwila International Boulevard by re-opening theimproved Neighborhood Resource Center. The community has already seen a positive differencewith the new bike officers patrolling this area.In the 2013-2014 budget, the City continues funding for these three officers and the NeighborhoodResource Center until it can move into its new location as part of Tukwila Village. The budget alsoincludes ongoing funding starting in 2014 for three officers that were previously covered throughFederal COPS grant funding.New Initiatives – Improving Public SafetyIn the 2013-2014 budget, I have added significant additional targeted resources to assist thecommunity in the highest priority areas with a clear focus on Tukwila International Boulevard.During the Budget Workshops, the Council reaffirmed our community’s priority of improving publicsafety, with a special emphasis on crime reduction.• Comprehensive Crime Reduction - The budget includes more than $1 million in new programsthat will reduce crime in our community. Building on the crime reduction initiativesrecommended originally by the Police Department, this budget will focus on hot spots andincrease support for investigations. Specifically, it will include:• Five new employees in the police department – More than $500,000 will be dedicated to hiringnew police officers and support staff that will focus on crime reduction strategies that havePage 8