City Council adopts 2025-26 biennial budget
December 4, 2024
The Vancouver City Council voted to adopt the City’s 2025-26 biennial budget at their Dec. 2 meeting.
The balanced budget – approximately $2.1 billion in total expenditures across all funds for the biennium – includes $1.5 billion in operating funds and $0.6 billion in capital funds.
“Using a strategic mix of expenditure reductions and new revenue, we successfully closed the $43 million gap we faced for the upcoming biennium,” said City Manager Lon Pluckhahn. “The budget passed reflects current community priorities and the expectations for Vancouver’s future.”
The budget was developed with community input from engagement touchpoints, including a community survey, an online budget prioritization tool, and various community meetings.
The budget included targeted reductions, enhancement of ongoing revenues, use of available cash resources, and several new revenue sources to support public safety, economic development, parks, transportation, the arts, and the homelessness crisis. Review the itemized list of cuts, projects, and revenue; highlights include:
- New revenue through a new Business and Occupation Tax on retail sales slated for 2026 to help fund the capital and operating costs of a new bridge shelter in Vancouver
- A Cultural Access Sales Tax to support school student access to cultural events and an investment in the Vancouver Culture and Arts Program to support arts programming in Vancouver
- $109.9 million investment in City streets
- Continuation of four major economic development projects through the next biennium to modernize different parts of the City, including the Heights, Section 30, Fourth Plain and Waterfront Gateway
- Citywide trail program includes building a trail segment connecting Burnt Bridge Creek to the existing trail along 18th Street to allow for citywide movement of pedestrians and bikes
- One-time appropriations for select community non-profits, including the Children’s Justice Center, Vancouver Watershed Alliance, and Columbia Springs
Access the Adopted Budget, a map of capital projects, and more at cityofvancouver.us/budget. The adopted budget will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
There will be additional communication later regarding the implementation of new revenue sources and applicable program/service changes.
Media contact:
Laura Shepard, Communications Director, laura.shepard@cityofvancouver.us