Mayor Benjamin outlines 2025 accomplishments and warns of ongoing fiscal constraints

Mayor Francis Benjamin delivered Pullman’s annual State of the City address on Feb. 24, praising community participation in 2025 programs and warning that the city still faces budgetary constraints going into the 2026–27 biennium.

Benjamin, who identified himself at the podium as Pullman’s mayor and framed the talk around celebrating 2025 accomplishments and planning for 2026, highlighted several department successes. He said library patrons made 322,000 visits and checked out more than 414,000 items, and noted the library’s completed facilities needs assessment and upgraded catalog system. He credited the parks department with completing the city’s PROS plan and advancing new projects including Veterans Park and a Memorial Garden, and he said the parks system totals about 165 acres.

On public safety, Benjamin pointed to 2025 call data — 10,502 total police calls and 3,706 fire responses — and noted that combined emergency‑response exercises and mutual aid with neighboring departments strengthened preparedness. He praised the city’s investments in public works, including adding rectangular rapid flashing beacons and completing a multimodal downtown infrastructure project financed in part by county, state and federal funds: a $12.5 million project completed with a $1,570,000 local match.

Benjamin also outlined economic development and housing efforts. He highlighted Market on Main and Market on Main’s role as an incubator for microbusinesses, noting 89 applications in 2025 and plans to expand into adjoining streets. He said community development improved permitting with a new online system and finished a 227‑page zoning update to increase flexibility for accessory dwelling units and upper‑floor housing.

On finances, Benjamin described the city’s revenue mix and said total 2025 revenues were about $72.3 million (a 3% decline from 2024) while total expenses were roughly $77 million (down 7.5% from 2024). He said the council’s actions and departmental reductions have reduced a previously projected $4 million gap to a remaining roughly $1.1 million shortfall that officials will address in the coming year. Benjamin and City Administrator Sean Wells said they will lead a disciplined review of expenses, revenues and service levels and will pilot a community‑based priority budgeting process to involve residents earlier in budget trade‑offs.

Benjamin closed by urging residents to submit ideas for council goals and praising the city’s civic partnerships, saying the administration will continue to prioritize staff development, community engagement and strategic projects.

The council took no formal action on the State of the City address; next procedural steps are goal‑setting work sessions and the biennial budget process.