Assessing the Health of Washington's Communities

Throughout the last decade, many of Washington’s cities and towns have stretched revenues to meet the most basic, critical services.

As cities enter a new fiscal year, they face an unprecedented economic downturn. The housing bubble has burst; the stock market has plummeted; the state’s deficit has ballooned; fuel costs are volatile; infrastructure materials are skyrocketing; and the headlines of job losses continue.

It’s time to further strengthen the partnership between cities and the state, and make the investments needed for their future.

Executive Summary (pdf, 484 kb)

Full Report (pdf, 818 kb)

"I am startlingly concerned about the sustainability of our budget for 2010 and beyond. Without revenues keeping pace with the cost pressures we face as a personnel-based service provider, we will be facing cuts in staffing every year moving forward to live within our means."
~Eric Swansen, City Manager, Sunnyside

"Those programs dependent on general fund funding have been the most difficult to sustain, especially discretionary programs such as parks, recreation, community services and internal administrative support."
~Betsy Williams, Assistant City Manager, Vancouver

Association of Washington cities ▪ 1076 Franklin st. se ▪ Olympia, wa 98501 ▪ 360-753-4137 ▪ www.awcnet.org