Large Commercial Centers

Overview | All cities | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Size – Large
Property value – High
Commercial activity – High
Growth – Low to moderate
Geography – All west

Cluster characteristics
Population
Economic characteristics
Other community characteristics

Fiscal conditions
Major revenue base
General financial outlook

Auburn, Bothell, Federal Way, Fife, Kent, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila

As strong retail centers, these cities have suffered greatly with the recession; nearly all have felt the economy worsen in the last year. Most of these communities are finding it harder to meet needs now than in 2008, and nearly all have reopened the 2009 budget or expect to do so before the end of the year. Squeezed budgets have forced these cities to freeze hiring and reduce spending on general government and public safety.

All data is recorded as median value for all cities in the cluster.

Data for individual cities may vary significantly in some categories.

Cluster Characteristics

Population

Average population size:

Year 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Pop. 28,637 33,847 34,010 34,920 35,490 35,690 35,830 36,360 36,790 36,930 38,690

Population density, 2009: 2,706 persons per square mile
Population growth rate, 2000-2009: 10.5%

Economic characteristics

Median household income (1999): $45,030
Poverty rate (1999): 10%
Major local employers by industry (1999):

Major local employers % of cities in cluster
(w/ industry as 1 of 3 top employers)

Manufacturing 91%

Retail trade 91%

Health care and social services 45%

Other Community Characteristics

Date of incorporation: 1905
GMA-planning cities: 100%
Number of housing units:

2000 2009 Growth
2000-2009

13,808 16,295 12.1%

Fiscal Conditions

Major Revenue Base

Per capita assessed value, 2008: $151,846
Per capita sales & use tax revenue, 2008: $349
Decline in sales & use tax distributions, October 2007 - May 2009: 34%

General Financial Outlook

Change in local economic conditions since June 2008:

(% of respondents)

Improved 0%

Stayed about the same 13%

Worsened 88%

Ability to meet financial needs:

(% of respondents)

Less able Same Better able

This year (FY 2009) compared with four years ago 91% 9% 0%

Next year compared with this year 45% 55% 0%

Four years from now compared with this year 36% 36% 27%

Steps taken to balance the budget:

(% of respondents)

Adopted with 2009 budget Imposed after 2009 budget was adopted Not as of survey date

Staffing changes

Froze hiring (city is not replacing employees when they leave/retiree) 25% 63% 13%

Decreased the number of hours/days worked or imposed furloughs 0% 29% 71%

Offered voluntary leave without pay 38% 0% 63%

Laid off employees 0% 0% 100%

Compensation/benefit changes

Eliminated salary increases for employees 0% 0% 100%

Delayed or reduced salary increases for employees 14% 14% 71%

Reduced spending on some employee benefits (i.e. deferred compensation, health care) 0% 17% 83%

Eliminated some employee benefits (i.e. deferred compensation, health care) 0% 0% 100%

Required increased employee contributions for employee/family health care 0% 17% 83%

Cities reopening budget or decreasing expenditures in response to reduced revenues:

Have taken these steps 73%

Had not but considered likely 18%

Had not and did not consider likely 9%

Actions cities are taking to balance budgets for remainder of 2009 (shows responses only from cities planning to amend budgeted expenditures):

Significant increase Slight increase Maintain Slight decrease Significant decrease Not authorized in your city

Infrastructure spending 10% 0% 30% 30% 30% 0%

Public safety spending 0% 0% 10% 90% 0% 0%

General government spending 0% 0% 0% 90% 10% 0%

Scope of services 0% 0% 20% 80% 0% 0%

Size of workforce 0% 0% 50% 40% 10% 0%

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Cluster 13