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Issaquah officials outline 2027–28 budget plan, say 15% reserve target achievable
Summary
City leaders heard a budget planning presentation from Finance Director Christine Garcia showing moderate revenue growth but mounting cost pressures from labor, insurance and fire-rescue contracts. The administration said it expects to meet the council's 15% ending fund balance target this year and avoid layoffs.
Finance Director Christine Garcia told the council the city is concluding the pre‑budget planning phase for the 2027–28 biennium and is working to align expense growth with revenue growth ahead of the mayor's preliminary budget this fall. "This is the time in the budget process to discuss key priorities and to gain alignment," Garcia said.
Garcia presented early revenue assumptions for the "big 4" core revenue streams, noting the preliminary estimate for total big‑4 revenue in 2027 was "$4,049,000,000" and that those core revenues represent roughly 72% of the general fund. She cautioned the administration will continue to update numbers through mid‑year actuals and asked council members to flag additional priorities they want reflected in the mayor's proposed budget.
The mayor and other council members emphasized two near‑term goals: return the ending fund balance to the council policy target and minimize staffing disruptions. The mayor said he was "confident that we'll have a good budget" and later that he expects to hit the 15% reserve target this calendar year. Administration also signaled a continued focus on fiscal sustainability amid growth in unavoidable costs such as collective bargaining, medical insurance and energy/utility tax effects.
