Budget & Finance

Bellevue Council Begins Budget Review

Thursday, September 24, 2026

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City Manager Diane Carlson introduced the preliminary 2027-2028 Operating Budget and 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan at Tuesday’s meeting, marking the official start of the City Council’s budget review process.

The $2.3 billion preliminary budget is balanced across all funds and reflects Bellevue’s longstanding emphasis on stewardship, long-range planning, community participation, and quality of life, with departments reviewing existing resources to identify efficiencies and strategically use one-time resources for key investments.

📄 Source: City of Bellevue — News — https://bellevuewa.gov/city-news/council-roundup-9-15-26

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Bellevue Council Begins Budget Review“At Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Diane Carlson introduced the preliminary 2027-2028 Operating Budget and 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan, marking the official start of the City Council’s budget review process for the upcoming biennium.”
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City Council starts budget process for 2027-2028 with $2.3 billion preliminary plan, including new transportation scenarios.“At Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Diane Carlson introduced the preliminary 2027-2028 Operating Budget and 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan, marking the official start of the City Council’s budget review process for the upcoming biennium. The $2.3 billion preliminary budget is balanced across all funds and reflects Bellevue’s longstanding emphasis on stewardship, long-range planning, community participation, and quality of life.”
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City Manager Diane Carlson introduced the preliminary 2027-2028 Operating Budget and 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan at Tuesday’s meeting, marking the official start of the City Council’s budget review process.“At Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Diane Carlson introduced the preliminary 2027-2028 Operating Budget and 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan, marking the official start of the City Council’s budget review process for the upcoming biennium.”
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The $2.3 billion preliminary budget is balanced across all funds and reflects Bellevue’s longstanding emphasis on stewardship, long-range planning, community participation, and quality of life, with departments reviewing existing resources to identify efficiencies and strategically use one-time resources for key investments.“The $2.3 billion preliminary budget is balanced across all funds and reflects Bellevue’s longstanding emphasis on stewardship, long-range planning, community participation, and quality of life.Staff outlined how departments evaluated service adjustments, potential new initiatives and resource needs to align with the council’s strategic target areas, which represent key community outcomes, and policy priorities. The preliminary budget focuses on maintaining core services while preparing the city for continued growth, with departments reviewing existing resources to identify efficiencies, realign spending where possible and strategically use one-time resources for key investments.”

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Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Print Plus, Communications team earns three national awardsAt Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Diane Carlson introduced the preliminary 2027-2028 Operating Budget and 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan, marking the official start of the City Council’s budget review process for the upcoming biennium. The $2.3 billion preliminary budget is balanced across all funds and reflects Bellevue’s longstanding emphasis on stewardship, long-range planning, community participation, and quality of life.Staff outlined how departments evaluated service adjustments, potential new initiatives and resource needs to align with the council’s strategic target areas, which represent key community outcomes, and policy priorities. The preliminary budget focuses on maintaining core services while preparing the city for continued growth, with departments reviewing existing resources to identify efficiencies, realign spending where possible and strategically use one-time resources for key investments. The proposal adds relatively few new programs, instead strengthening or expanding many existing services and initiatives.Highlighted investments include digital accessibility and cybersecurity; support for Startup 425, KidsQuest Children’s Museum and economic development efforts; expansion of speed safety programs and walkability improvements; parks and permitting investments; fire facility and utility planning; and additional support for affordable housing, homelessness response, the Bellevue Promise program and utility-bill assistance.Economic pressures remain a factor in the preliminary budget, and the proposal includes a 1% increase in the portion of property tax collected by the city.The six-year CIP includes investments in Fire Station 5 construction, City Hall maintenance, park improvements, transportation network gaps and utility infrastructure. Staff also provided the council with three transportation investment scenarios: the preliminary base program, additional investments supported through a Transportation Benefit District sales tax, and a third scenario combining a sales tax with vehicle-license fees. The council is considering the Transportation Benefit District as a potential dedicated source of funding for transportation projects as Bellevue continues to grow. The council also held the second of three public hearings on the 2027-2028 budget Tuesday. The third and final public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.Budget deliberations begin Sept. 22 and continue through the fall, with additional study sessions scheduled in October and November and budget adoption planned for Nov. 17. Community members can also attend a budget information session Sept. 30 from 6-8 p.m. to learn more about the preliminary proposal, ask questions and provide feedback. The full preliminary budget, including the operating budget, six-year CIP and supporting documents, is available at Preliminary 2027-2028 Budget.Communications team earns three national awardsThe council also recognized Bellevue’s communications team for earning three national awards from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA).The team received a prestigious Savvy Award for an exemplary crisis communications plan, a Silver Circle Award for the city’s Lake to Lake news show and an Award of Excellence for the Parks & Community Services summer activity guide, recognized for its design and accessibility.The awards recognize excellence in communications and marketing work by local governments across the country.
Source: https://bellevuewa.gov/city-news/council-roundup-9-15-26