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City staff outline budget timeline and say council has directed hotel tax increase for November ballot

City staff meeting · March 27, 2026

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Summary

Staff described a multi-step budget calendar, a five-year forecast and a draft capital improvement program, and said the City Council has directed staff to pursue a November ballot measure to raise the transient occupancy tax from 10% to 12%.

City staff laid out the budget calendar for the coming months and said the City Council has directed staff to pursue a November ballot measure to raise the transient occupancy tax (TOT) from 10% to 12%, the Moderator said.

The Moderator said the city is "fully 2 feet into budget season" and that staff delivered a first draft of a five-year forecast and the initial five-year capital improvement program, which lists planned physical projects and is a major cost driver. The presentation is part of a sequence that leads to formal budget adoption by July 1.

"It's basically the financial health of the city," the Moderator said, describing the forecast as a tool that projects revenues, expenses and planned projects. The Moderator added that the council has already given direction to pursue a November ballot measure and noted one revenue option is to raise the TOT from 10% to 12%.

Staff said a consultant will present revenue options at an April 6 session; after that meeting staff expect to have direction sufficient to prepare the city's first draft budget, which will be presented on May 5. Staff then plan a larger budget workshop a few weeks after the draft is released and community workshops to collect questions and provide answers before the June adoption process.

Marissa said staff will host community sessions after the May 5 release and encouraged residents to submit questions in advance so presenters can come prepared. The Moderator said staff maintain a living Q&A document that will be posted on the city's website to increase transparency during the process.

Next steps: staff will present revenue options on April 6, release the first draft on May 5 and hold a detailed budget workshop later in May; the city must adopt a final budget by July 1 for the fiscal year to begin.