Nancy Bacchus sworn in for fourth term as Auburn mayor; outlines affordable-housing push and 0-based budget plan

Mayor Nancy Bacchus was sworn in for a fourth term in a public ceremony in Auburn. City Attorney Jason Whalen administered the oath of office before a packed room, after which Bacchus delivered remarks laying out priorities for her next four years in office.

Bacchus thanked longtime supporters, city staff and family, reflected on more than two decades in local government and said Auburn has seen both growth and sharp challenges. "Our kids should be thriving, not worried about even if they can pay rent," she said, characterizing affordable housing as a top priority.

The mayor cited recent emergencies — the pandemic, two downtown fires in eight years and a regional flood — and credited the city's emergency operations center and partners for response efforts. She also said crime is down in Auburn and the region and that the city has "more police officers than ever before."

On economic and downtown development, Bacchus pointed to new housing and commercial space that followed the fires and said a new theater is planned for Downtown Park. She urged work with property owners and non-monetary incentives to reactivate street-level retail, while acknowledging the city cannot force businesses to move into vacant storefronts.

Bacchus announced a fiscal change for the coming budget cycle: a hybrid approach to a 0-based budget for the two-year period. She described the process as a program-by-program review to determine whether longstanding services still justify current funding and said the goal is to ensure taxpayer dollars deliver the best value. "These are your dollars that you have entrusted us with, and we need to make sure that we are proving to you that we are using them in the best way that we can," she said.

Returning and newly elected council members also spoke. Council member Kate Baldwin thanked voters and urged residents to hold leaders accountable; she described the act of voting as "a small act of hope in a time of unknowns." Newly elected council member Brian Lott said he was grateful for voters' trust and pledged to be available to constituents. Council member Lisa Sturgess thanked family and supporters and said she will "have a courageous voice" representing residents.

The ceremony ended with announcements about photos and refreshments in the lobby and a reminder that the regular council meeting would begin in about an hour.

No formal votes or new ordinances were taken during the ceremony; the event was ceremonial and focused on oaths, remarks and community engagement.