During the Kent City Council Special Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, Mayor Dana Ralph presented the proposed 2027–2028 biennial budget, highlighting a commitment to preserving core services despite rising economic and regulatory pressures.
Neighboring municipalities face service and staffing cuts, due to heightened labor, material, and utility costs, alongside costly state mandates such as public defense reforms and rising correctional facility expenses.
Supported by strategic revenue sources like the new criminal justice sales tax, the budget prioritizes fully staffing local law enforcement, expanding senior center services, and advocating for state legislative support ahead of final council adoption scheduled for Dec. 8.
Mayor’s Budget Presentation
Mayor Dana Ralph presented a proposed budget for the 2027-2028 biennium to the council. She explained that the focus of the budget continues to be on maintaining core services. She said many local governments have recently had to make cuts to both staff and services due to shortfalls, so she is proud that Kent doesn’t have to make similar cuts at this time.
That doesn’t mean costs haven’t gone up, however. Just like the community at large, the city has to deal with inflation. The costs of labor and materials, as well as services like utilities, have all increased. Mayor Ralph said that keeping street lights on alone will come to $2 million, with increases in the cost of electrical service. In addition, the state has added new unfunded mandates, things that local governments must pay for that increase the cost of basic city management.
Unfunded mandates include public defense caseload limits, which will cost the city around $4 million annually. Another cost increase will be medical expenses at the correctional facility. The current medical provider gave notice, something that is happening throughout the state, so new providers must be found. It is expected to cost an additional $1 million each year for inmate medical care. In addition, federal grants used to fund DNA analysis to solve cold cases. Unfortunately, these grants have become unreliable and this analysis will need to be funded locally.
The new criminal justice sales tax is helping to offset these increased costs. It is expected to bring in around $3 million a year. This money also helps to keep the police department fully staffed. The department is expecting significant officer retirement in the next few years. Getting new hires trained ahead of time means there won’t be an officer shortage when that time comes.
The senior center is serving a growing population, and after a slow couple of years due to Covid, use of the facility has been healthy. The facility is popular enough that an existing temporary position will be converted to a regular full-time staff position. Their salary will come from increased revenue at the center itself.
Mayor Ralph said the city will continue to work with state legislators to address ongoing financial issues, with the aim of reducing costs to the city as well as protecting local revenue sources. State funding for the new green administration building will be sought, along with offsets for public defense costs and reasonable liability for jail medical services. In addition, the city will seek more sustainable local government funding, and support for the local aerospace industry.
Future Budget Discussions
The council will hold further budget workshops and public hearings on Oct. 6 and Oct. 20, and then have a final budget discussion at the Committee of the Whole on Nov. 3. Final adoption of the biennial budget is planned for Dec. 8.
