Tracking the 2024 Mid-biennium Budget Process

The Burien City Council adopts a budget every two years (every “biennium”) and follows a process every other year to adjust the budget based on new operational needs and to reflect more current revenues and expenses.

The proposed mid-biennium update to the budget was presented to the City Council during their October 2, 2023 meeting, highlighting current revenue and expenditures and proposing new initiatives.

The budget presented is balanced with adequate money set aside to support the City’s reserve accounts, with the City Manager’s reserve account providing an extra layer of protection against potential economic risk. The need to address the future revenue gap is ongoing.

Highlights of the mid-biennium budget update include:

Support for important programs and services while also funding some one-time initiatives
Addressing unexpected costs
Allocation of the remaining COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Funds
Trends that may affect the budget such as increased insurance costs and reduced fuel tax revenue

Financial policies guide financial management practices

A key component of the budget process is the City’s financial policies. These policies guide decision-making about how the budget is developed, the type of routine expenditure increases that are allowed, and other financial management practices. The City Council has the opportunity to update their financial policies each year.

Read the preliminary 2024 financial policies.

Get involved

Discussion and public hearings on the mid-biennium budget will be held this fall during City Council meetings. See below for the full calendar:

October 2, 2023: Presentation and discussion
October 16, 2023: First public hearing and continued presentation and discussion
November 6, 2023: Second public hearing, introduction of property tax levy and surface water management rates, and continued presentation and discussion
November 20, 2023: Adoption of property tax levy and surface water management rates, introduction of budget ordinance
December 4, 2023: Adoption of budget ordinance, including 2024 financial policies