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Burien staff outlines lean, program-focused budget approach and a July–December timeline for the 2027–28 biennium
Summary
City finance and communications staff described a shift to programmatic budgeting, announced approval to collect a criminal justice sales and use tax beginning in July, and released a public engagement calendar that includes a June City Chat and public hearings in October–November ahead of December budget adoption.
City staff presented a programmatic approach to the 2027–28 biennial budget at the Burien City Council study session, laying out a timeline for council decisions and a community engagement plan to bring residents into budgeting earlier than in past cycles.
Finance staff said the city received approval from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for a local sales and use tax with collections slated to begin in July, an incoming revenue source staff said will help narrow the current shortfall. Staff described the budget work as a move from a department-line-item presentation to a ‘programming’ approach — what presenters called a “Rosetta Stone” to link programs, staffing, professional services and outcomes so council and the public can evaluate trade-offs.
Staff identified three strategy buckets: strengthen resources (grants, fees, taxes), reduce or realign costs through efficiencies and cross-department work (for example parks and public works coordinating projects), and present service-level options for council to weigh. The presenters highlighted recent technology and process changes intended to reduce staff time and consultant dependency: a new B&O tax website and registration, an upgraded ERP/workflow (Tyler) for contracts and AP, and the Fix It Burien platform to automate service requests.
On engagement, communications staff outlined a one-stop ‘community hub’ landing page, a Burien magazine story series, and a June City Chat (open-house format) to invite residents to talk to staff about budget priorities. Staff proposed a schedule of decision touchpoints: July (department options and programming decisions), September (first budget meeting), Oct. 5 (revenue forecast), Oct. 12 (CIP presentations), Oct. 26 (first public hearing), Nov. 9 (second public hearing), Nov. 23 (property tax finalization) and Dec. 7 (budget adoption).
Council members asked about balancing consultant work versus in-house capacity; staff said several forecasting and audit contracts have been brought in-house, and workflow/software improvements are expected to deliver ongoing savings and better cash-flow handling. The presentation closed with staff commitments to return with program-level options in July and to ramp community outreach to improve transparency.
Ending: Staff will return in July with department program options and trade-offs and will proceed with the outreach schedule that culminates in public hearings in October–November and final adoption in early December.
