Edmonds council adopts 2026 budget modifications to restore staff and shift funds for maintenance, cybersecurity and utilities

EDMONDS — The Edmonds City Council voted unanimously Oct. 8 to adopt a set of 2026 budget modifications that restore and add several staff positions, reallocate previously unassigned savings and approve material changes to non‑general funds, including use of building maintenance bond proceeds.

Council approved adjustments affecting Administrative Services, Human Resources and Community Services that, as presented in a late packet, include restoring funding for a Deputy Finance Director, converting a part‑time Human Resources Analyst to a full‑time position, adding a City Administration Management Analyst (to lead city‑level performance measures), and adjusting a Web Analyst role toward an external communications/webmaster function. The adopted package also includes two technology‑focused positions: a Network and Security Specialist and a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems specialist for utility control systems; staff said those roles respond to rising cybersecurity threats and planned treatment‑plant upgrades.

Why it matters: Council and staff said the changes aim to address high turnover, understaffing for hiring and labor relations, improve decision‑support and public‑facing communications, and strengthen cyber and operational resiliency for utilities. Finance staff noted some net department impacts appear smaller because of roll‑forward budget reductions from 2025 and because a previously used budget placeholder for directed savings has been…