Mayor Rosen addresses budget gap, RFA issues during Edmonds Civic Roundtable meeting

Mayor Mike Rosen addressed a crowd of nearly 100 residents at the Edmonds Waterfront Center, discussing the city's pressing budget crisis and the proposed annexation into the Regional Fire Authority (RFA). He highlighted a staggering 44. 9% growth in expenditures over the past four years, contrasted with a mere 27. 8% increase in revenues. A major contributor to this financial strain is the 39% rise in insurance costs, which alone exceeds the annual property tax increase allowed under state law.

Rosen emphasized that the current 1% cap on property tax hikes is insufficient to cover these rising expenses, calling it a "setup for a slow death. " Additionally, he revealed a shocking increase in software costs from $2,041 for three years to $30,000 for one year due to market consolidation. To mitigate a projected $20. 4 million deficit, the city has resorted to deepening budget cuts, including staff layoffs and furloughs. The mayor pointed out that the city's full-time employee count has decreased significantly while still providing essential services.

The annexation proposal is positioned as a cost-effective alternative to restarting a city fire department, which would require substantial initial investments and training.