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 reallocated into specific departments.

Key figures and adjustments listed in the packet include an increase in an interfund service charge estimate for 2025 to $3,839,055, a $10,000 addition for city council training, and removal of a structural engineer position in Development Services (savings of $123,723 in salaries and $35,340 in benefits). Staff described anticipated salary and benefit amounts for restored roles (for example, the Deputy Finance Director line shows about $161,500 in salary and roughly $59,007.55 in benefits before roll‑forward effects) and a retained $249,000 balance to cover anticipated personnel payouts such as retirements or accrued leave.

On cybersecurity and utilities: staff described thousands of intrusion attempts observed in short periods and recommended a dedicated Network and Security Specialist to centralize security responsibilities now shared across two staff. For public works and the treatment plant, council discussed creating an in‑house SCADA specialist to reduce contractor dependence and accelerate needed upgrades; staff said the position would be funded largely by utility funds (approximately an 85/15 split in the example given).

Non‑departmental and the placeholder question: Council probed a $1.9–$2.0 million ‘‘plug’’ that had appeared in the original budget as an undirected savings placeholder. Staff explained that council had directed additional savings but not where to take them; the placeholder held that amount until specific cuts were identified and applied to departments, which is why the revised packet shows different net impacts. Staff emphasized the budget does balance in the city’s system and that the retained $249,000 is a contingency for payouts.

Material changes in non‑general funds: Council also approved several non‑general fund changes, including an increase of $1,250,000 in planned building maintenance spending funded by bond proceeds (bringing the 2026 plan for that fund to about $1,785,000 and leaving an estimated ending fund balance around $226,000). Staff said the packet lists the details on the colored pages and referenced fund 16 for building maintenance and fund 512 for technology rental/IT internal service charges.

Council actions and next steps: After unanimous votes to adopt the department modifications, to take non‑departmental items from the table, and to approve non‑departmental and non‑general fund material changes, council directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance reflecting the amendments and to attach a listing of approved positions; that motion also passed unanimously. Staff said the complete package and related CIP/CIP forecasting work would be revisited in December alongside the capital plan.

Meeting context: Council and staff repeatedly noted this packet reflects work responding to prior direction (including council‑directed savings) and a year‑plus effort to improve transparency and priority‑based budgeting. Several council members encouraged public participation in upcoming levy town halls and related meetings. The meeting record shows council discussion focused on operational capacity, transparency, cyber and utility resilience, and the mechanics of carrying savings and payouts through the budget system.

Votes (summary): All motions tied to the package — adopting the ‘‘other’’ department modifications, returning and approving non‑departmental modifications, approving the non‑general fund material changes, and directing the City Attorney to draft the ordinance with position attachments — passed unanimously, according to the roll call taken on the floor.

Speakers and attribution: Direct attributions in this report are limited to individuals identified in the meeting record. Staff presenting budget and fund details included Keisha (finance staff) and Director Goh; IT and operations topics were presented by IT/operations staff (recorded as Mr. Tooley and Mr. Tatum in the transcript). Council speakers who questioned and voted on the package included Council Member Payne, Council President Tibbitt (name appears variably in the record as Tibbitt/Tippett), Council Members Chen, Nant, Olson, Rek, Ek and Dunphy. Where the transcript used only a first name or an internal label, this article preserves the form shown in the record or notes that a detail was not specified.

What’s next: Staff said the items will be folded into the December review that pairs operating amendments with the capital improvement plan for further forecasting and final ordinance language.