Community Priorities/Long-Range Financial Planning Advisory Committee

The Committee's Final Recommendations Report was presented to City Council on April 27, 2009.

The City of Shoreline's long-term financial forecasts indicate that by 2010 the City's current resources will not be adequate to continue to provide the current level of basic services to the Shoreline community. Although the City has implemented budgetary reductions and service efficiencies for the last several years, inflationary costs for fuel, asphalt, jail, the police contract and other items are growing faster than the City's primary revenue sources such as the property tax (capped at 1%) and sales tax.

In March 2008, the City Council formed a community advisory committee representing a broad range of Shoreline residents and interests to recommend long-term strategies on service reductions, efficiencies and funding options. The first phase of the group's process was to learn more about current City services and finances and to identify unmet community needs. The second phase involves refining the list of City services and the list of unmet needs and looking at financing options for those services to present as a recommendation to the City Council.

The Committee provided an interim report to the City Council in September which included the following findings:

• Based on results of the 2006 and 2008 Citizen’s survey and feedback gathered from residents, the Shoreline community does not want a significant reduction in City services.
• The City’s budget strategy must include a commitment to work efficiently. The committee recommended that the City do a better job of informing citizens of efficiencies that have been implemented and that the City demonstrate responsible financial stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The committee recommended that the City explore opportunities to limit or reduce future expenditures in the City’s contracts for police and jail services, use technology to limit or reduce costs of communication and work with other jurisdictions to ensure that there is “value” to the Shoreline Community.
• Alternative or additional revenues will be required to maintain current service levels.
• Expansion of service levels should only be addressed once a strategy is adopted to maintain current services and must reflect the priorities of the community. Areas that the committee has identified for service level enhancements include:
  • Transportation system improvements such as additional sidewalks, signal coordination and road maintenance
  • Economic development – supporting local businesses and attracting new businesses
  • Senior and volunteer services and coordination

Meeting Archives & Informational Materials

Contact Us
Debbie Tarry 
Assistant City Manager
(206)801-2212
dtarry@shorelinewa.gov