Budget FY26

The City of Yakima is entering a crucial phase in its budgeting process, focusing on strategic priorities that reflect the community's aspirations for a safer, healthier, and more vibrant future. As we develop the fiscal year 2026 budget, our commitment centers on ensuring Yakima is resilient, thriving, and fully engaged with its residents. This process commences with meticulous strategic planning aimed at aligning financial resources with our City's outlined priorities of safety, resilience, and community engagement. Our residents’ insights and feedback are invaluable, and we encourage active participation to ensure these fiscal plans echo community values and needs.

In this preliminary stage, we face significant challenges that call for robust community involvement. The fiscal year 2025-2026 budget aims to bolster understanding around revenue and expenditures, reinforcing transparency and establishing a long-term financial framework. Yakima needs thoughtful collaboration to overcome a $12.0 million shortfall in meeting the mandated general fund reserves by the end of 2026. Input from all community members is pivotal as we navigate these financial intricacies and work towards a balanced, sustainable budget that will serve the present and future needs of Yakima’s diverse population.

Strategic Priorities

The priority-based budget process starts at the beginning of the year, with strategic planning. Identified priorities of
Yakima's City Council include:

• A Safe & Healthy Yakima
• A Resilient Yakima
• A Thriving Yakima
• An Engaged Yakima