City moving to biennial budget process

anacortes city hall 1

The city is planning to move to a two-yer budget cycle, starting next year, something some City Council think could save time in the second year of each cycle.

City Council member Ryan Walters suggested that, rather than saving time, he said the reason he likes the plan is to spend more time working on the budget.

But, Council member Erica Pickett said, “Here, I thought it was going to save time. If it’s going to take more time, I’m not sure I’m for it at all.”

Another Council member, Liz Lovelett, said that by “front-loading” the budget, “we’ll have more time the second year for legislative concerns.”

City Finance Director Steve Hoglund said the two-year budget process will, “look much different than our current process. It will take longer, but not twice as long.” He said he would have a budget calendar available for the Council within the next four weeks.

The Council approved the biennial budget proposal.