10/26/2026
Working Through Pullman’s Proposed Budget
I’ve spent some time today digging into Pullman’s proposed 2027–2028 budget, and I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned.
I’m trying to better understand where our General Fund money comes from, where it goes, and what we’re actually paying for when we look at individual department budgets.
Today, I focused on a handful of our smaller city functions, including communications, economic development, grants, legal services, and executive administration. I also looked at how other Washington cities provide similar services.
One thing that stood out to me is that a department’s total budget is much more than someone’s salary. It can include benefits, supplies, operating expenses, and payments for shared city services such as IT, buildings, equipment, and GIS.
I’ve also learned that other Washington cities employ people or contract for many of these same functions. Their job titles and responsibilities vary, so I’m still working to understand how the actual costs compare.
A few important caveats: This is strictly my personal understanding and interpretation of the mayor’s proposed budget as I’ve worked through it. It is not a comprehensive budget analysis, an official City Council position, or a representation of decisions that have been made. These are proposed figures, not a final adopted budget. The comparisons are preliminary, and I welcome corrections if I’ve misunderstood something.
I’m continuing to work through the budget, department by department, looking for opportunities to save money while understanding the services and people behind the numbers.
I believe we need to be thoughtful about every dollar we spend, but also careful about what we might lose when we make cuts.
I’m sharing what I’m learning along the way in hopes that it helps others better understand the decisions ahead.
Shared in my individual capacity as a Pullman City Council member, not on behalf of the City Council.
