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City presents 2026 preliminary budget; council hears questions on revenue and cuts
Summary
Finance Director Mike Giffins presented Olympia’s 2026 preliminary operating budget, outlining assumed new revenues (public safety sales tax half-year estimate $1.5M), planned reductions of roughly $1.284M to balance, and enhancements funded by grants. Council scheduled final balancing and ordinances in December.
Finance Director Mike Giffins presented the city’s 2026 preliminary operating budget during the second public hearing Tuesday, reiterating revenue assumptions and a package of reductions that bring the proposed budget into balance.
Giffins told the council the administration is budgeting conservatively for the new public-safety sales tax (half-year estimate of $1.5 million) and anticipates a full-year collection of approximately $3 million in 2027, subject to the Criminal Justice Training Commission and Department of Revenue approvals. He said the budget includes neutral enhancements funded by grants and interjurisdictional support (examples cited: firefighter staffing, climate-resilience coordinator, sidewalk repair team) and identified reductions totaling about $1.284 million that balance the 2026 outlook.
Council members raised questions about the regressive character of sales and B&O taxes and the limits of local tools for revenue; Mayor Pro Tem Nguyen and other members discussed trade-offs and urged continued engagement with the legislature on tax reform. Council requested that budget slides include rental-registry staffing capacity and that finance staff present final adjustments to the finance committee and at the Dec. 2 Zoom meeting for final balancing.
The council will consider budget ordinances and rate/fee ordinances in December for formal adoption.
