EVERETT, AUG. 23: At Wednesday’s, Aug. 21, city council meeting the council introduced a new budget consultant, made amendments to the employee incentive program and voted to bring back the Everett Chamber of Commerce.
Budget Update
Mike Bailey is the budget consultant that the council has hired to help address the $12.6 million deficit, according to council president Don Schwab.
Bailey has worked in government finance since 1980 and has worked with local governments like the city of Edmonds, Redmond, Renton, Lynnwood, Wenatchee and Everett. He is the former president of the Washington Finance Officers Association (WFOA).
He will be reporting to the council for a short period to help the council with the 2025 budget, Schwab said. The council plans to have three budget committee meetings in September that are open to the public.
There will be a listening session with Schwab, Mayor Cassie Franklin, and other council members from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, at Everett Station in the Weyerhaeuser Room, 3201 Smith Ave.
Residents are also encouraged to share their thoughts about what should be cut from the budget through this survey until Aug. 28.
Voluntary Separation Incentive Program
The council continued to discuss the potential voluntary separation incentive program that would be available to city of Everett employees. Council member Judy Tuohy proposed an amendment to offer the program to employees who have been consecutively working 24 months instead of the proposed 18 months. The amendment was added to the proposal.
Other amendments proposed involved using a sliding scale in terms of severance instead of the proposed four-month base pay in the original ordinance. This stems from the incentive program used in 2020.
“The more restrictive we make the voluntary separation program, the more likely it is that we’re going to have to look at involuntary separations from the city…” Lori Cummings, Senior Executive Director of the Mayor’s office, said.
The council will vote on the voluntary separation incentive program on Wednesday, Aug. 28. The mayor will need to submit her budget message and proposal by late October of this year.
Everett Chamber of Commerce
The city of Everett voted to approve using $600,000 of the city’s Covid Recovery Fund to re-establish the Everett Chamber of Commerce. This ordinance was proposed based on feedback from Everett business owners emphasizing the need for a stand-alone chamber.
The first Everett Chamber was established in 1892 and in 2011, merged with the Economic Chamber of Commerce of Snohomish County.
“A future Chamber will support and attract business, providing essential services such as networking events, business education and tailored support and advocacy for small businesses,” the ordinance reads.
