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Everett council approves Veterans Services budget after questions about staffing and programs
Summary
The budget committee approved the Office of Veterans Services FY26 appropriation after Director Coleman outlined a reallocation of funds into an events line for expanded outreach and monthly veterans' luncheons; councilors pressed for pay parity with other department heads and clarity on a veterans plaque program.
The Everett budget committee voted to approve the Office of Veterans Services FY26 budget after Director Mr. Coleman reported the department has used roughly 90% of its current year appropriation and is reallocating savings into a new events line to expand outreach.
Mr. Coleman told councilors the office has begun monthly veterans’ luncheons and intends to use mailers to reach about 275 veterans listed by the elections department. “We started doing mailers, so I did get that list from the elections department of the veterans, so we started just mailing out, just letting them know what we're doing, the services we offer,” Coleman said.
Councilors pressed Coleman about pay and program priorities. Councilor Martins noted many department heads earn more than $100,000 and asked why the veterans director’s salary remained at about $87,000; several councilors urged consideration of a salary adjustment to reflect the role’s responsibilities.
Coleman also described changes to a small existing program — referred to in the hearing as the “thank a vet” (thank-a-vet/grandma) program — that previously gave gift cards to individual veterans. He said the department would absorb that activity into the events line to reach more veterans through luncheons and expos.
Councilors asked about veterans plaques and monuments. Coleman and the mayor said the city plans a new monument at Warner Park to consolidate street‑name dedications and inscribe names on a single memorial; preliminary engineering plans and bids are underway and the project would be funded from veteran plaques and signage funds.
What was decided: The committee approved the Veterans Services budget as presented. Councilors asked staff to monitor program outcomes and review compensation at future budget cycles.
Why it matters: The budget preserves outreach and event funding intended to broaden veteran services; councilors raised equity questions about staff pay and encouraged efforts to increase direct outreach.
Sources: Mr. Coleman, Director, Office of Veterans Services; council comments and budget vote, May 21, 2025.
