Oak Harbor finance director outlines $100M in public safety grants and infrastructure funding

The City Council meeting on June 2, 2025, focused on several key issues impacting Anacortes, particularly in public safety, infrastructure funding, and legislative changes affecting local governance.

A significant highlight was the announcement of a new $100 million grant program aimed at enhancing local hiring for public safety positions. This initiative is designed to assist cities in recruiting and retaining officers, addressing ongoing concerns about workforce shortages in law enforcement. The program requires cities to contribute 25% of the costs associated with the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, which is an improvement over previous funding structures.

The council also discussed the challenges surrounding indigent defense. While there was a request for the state to share costs and set caseload limits, the state opted to increase grant availability for indigent defense instead. The Washington State Supreme Court is still deliberating on new caseload standards, leaving some uncertainty for local defense services.

Infrastructure funding was another critical topic. The council emphasized the importance of maintaining the Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA), which provides low-interest loans for capital projects. A new bond authority of $100 million was allocated to this account, alongside a 6¢ gas tax increase, which will yield approximately $20,000 in new revenue for Anacortes. This funding is expected to support transportation projects, although council members expressed that it fell short of their broader funding needs.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the implications of a newly adopted policy allowing unemployment benefits for striking workers. This policy raised concerns among council members, particularly regarding its impact on public safety workers who have previously agreed to binding arbitration in exchange for relinquishing the right to strike. The council plans to revisit this issue in future discussions.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's ongoing efforts to secure funding and support for essential services while navigating legislative changes that could affect local governance and public safety. The council expressed a commitment to reviewing these developments annually to assess their impact on the community.