Mountlake Terrace advances an accelerated 2027–28 budget calendar, schedules community meetings

Mountlake Terrace staff told the council on March 12 that the city will begin its 2027–28 biannual budget process earlier than usual, with departmental work starting in April and public hearings and formal council consideration planned through December.

The finance director presented a month‑by‑month calendar designed to give departments and council more time to analyze options and to expand public outreach. The presentation said the city will issue preliminary budget documents to departments in April, hold multiple department review meetings in May and June, make manager reviews in August, present department budgets to council in October, and complete required public hearings on the budget and property tax in November with council consideration and a potential final vote in December. Staff said the April steps are preliminary and departments will continue refining their proposals across the summer.

Why it matters: staff said the earlier start is intended to allow more time for complex choices after the fiscal sustainability review and to give residents more opportunities to weigh in before council votes later in the year. Finance and managers emphasized that some statutory steps are required under Washington law and will be met on the schedule presented.

Finance director (presenter) said some departments have already begun preparing materials and that the April submissions are intended to surface key questions early. "We're starting this a bit earlier than law requires because I think we have some challenges this year and want to make sure that we give it adequate time and thought," the presenter said.

Council members welcomed the earlier start and asked staff to ensure clear documentation for residents and an explanation of how preliminary numbers will be used. Council member Page asked whether departments truly had only two weeks for preliminary submissions; staff replied that some departments have already been working, and the April deadline is meant to provide an early snapshot and a chance to ask follow‑up questions.

Next steps: staff said they will bring back additional details as departments refine proposals and will publish community‑meeting dates and materials online. The council signaled it expects more policy decisions this spring so staff can plan for how budget options would affect department workloads and service levels.