LYNNWOOD— Lynnwood city departments are proposing significant staffing reductions and operational changes as the city works to address a budget shortfall heading into the 2027-2028 biennium, with proposed cuts affecting development services, information technology and human resources. During an Oct. 21 City Council meeting, department leaders outlined their proposed budgets, describing efforts to scale back operations while maintaining essential services amid tighter financial constraints.
Executive Department
The meeting began with a brief presentation by Interim Finance Director Monisha Harrell who spoke on behalf of the Executive Department’s budget proposal, saying the city is exploring the idea of adding an in-house City Attorney position in addition to a Human Services Coordinator.
According to Harrell the City has been spending so much money externally on Attorneys that the external feature no longer benefits the city. For example, at one time the city spent $40,000 a year on City Attorney fees, in 2025 the city paid nearly $400,000 in City Attorney fees.
Other efficiencies Harrell highlighted is reorganizing the City Clerk position by reducing one Deputy City Clerk and one Support Technician – replaced by one Public Records position. This is in addition to moving the Human Services Coordinator from PRCA to provide more direct support for community and its role.
The total proposed budget for the Executive Department for 2027-2028 is $4,026,782.
Development Business Services
Community Planning Manager Karl Almgram, Director Ben Wolters, and Services Manager Linda Montano spoke on the Development Business Services Department portion of the budget proposal.
Wolters quickly recapped the roles and responsibilities of the Department before highlighting some recent housing and mobility achievements including opening Enso, supporting Housing Hope’s Scriber Place, adopting the Unified Development Code, and pre-approving Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (which will roll-out this fall), in addition to Link light rail, the interim parking Ordinance, planning for Everett Link light rail extension, and supporting the 44th Avenue Underpass project.
The Department also adopted its Critical Areas Ordinance, which saved approximately $100,000 in consultant costs, processed 2,684 building permits in 2025, investigated over 700 complaints in Code Enforcement (57% were found to be in violation), assisted over 200 small businesses, passed the food truck and cannabis ordinances, and hosted Quarterly Small Business for more than 150 small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Continuing with some of the Department’s achievements, it adopted and implemented the Public Facilities District development agreement, adopted and implemented its Tax Increment Financing for City Center Development, and approved Opportunity Zone 2 tax incentive program for the City Center – all of which Wolters said is “laying the groundwork for the next phase of development of City Center.”
For the proposed biennial budget, the Development Business Services Departments is looking at a reduction of 41.61% – from $14,959,888 (in 2025-2026) to $8,735,350 in 2027-2028.
“Many years ago, I was sitting in a Public Budget class and the instructor said ‘someday you will be sitting before a legislative body presenting a budget and they will ask you is it the best possible budget, and you will say no. But it is the best budget possible,” said Montano. “If you were look at the last biennium that represents the best possible budget. This year the task was a little different and that was how do we dial back in a way that fits in to the best available resources.”
As far as staffing, the Department would need to scale back due to budget shortfall, from seven positions down in 2027 and one position down in 2028, assuming continued budget pressures. The total reduction in staffing is 40% from 2025 to 2028.
The positions on the chopping block include Planner, Administrative Assistant, Senior Administrative Assistance, Senior Permit Technician, Permit Technician, Combination Building Plan Reviewer, Building Services Manager, Economic Development Manager, and Business Development Program Manager.
The total proposed budget for DBS for 2027-2028 is $8,735,350.
IT Department
IT Director Will Cena walked council through IT’s budget proposal, first highlighting its major roles of administration, systems administrations, end-user support, application support, and cyber security.
Cena said the proposed staffing reductions at IT is 3 full-time employees, which decreases staffing capacity while the underlying technology systems, applications, infrastructure, and support responsibilities remain.
The positions on the chopping block are the Networks Systems Administrator, Database Administrator and the Applications Support Analyst.
Despite these staffing reductions, Cena said the Department has had an increase in services – particularly in tickets, where ticket count in 2025 was at 7,246 compared to 4,535 in 2022.
Cena continued that when he joined the City of Lynnwood staff 21 years ago there were 11 staff members in IT. These reductions would return staff members to 11 but with twice the devices and responsibility.
The total budget for IT for 2027-2028 is $6,499,062.
Human Resources
Moving on the Human Resource Department’s budget proposal, Interim Director Darlene Connor explained that her Department took advantage of a retirement in June (HR Manager) to eliminate the HR Management position.
With the reduction of one FTE this equates to 20% cut in Operation Funds. The Department is also working on reorganization and reassignment of HUR functions for efficiency.
The Department also eliminated its policy management module as a cost efficiency.
The overall total budget for the HR Department in 2027 is $1,200,472 and $1,261,698 for 2028.
Resolution Opposing Initiatives ILA26-001 and IL26-638
To close out the meeting, Councilwoman Isabel Mata led a discussion on a resolution that would oppose initiatives ILA26-001 and IL26-638 to Protect Student Safety, LGBTQIA2+ Rights, and Equity in Public Education.
Councilmember Bryce Owings was the sole commentator, expressing not wanting to waste resources on the matter but was open to including the resolution on the unanimous consent agenda for next Monday’s meeting.
However, Council President Nick Coelho noted that the matter could not be included in the Consent Agenda.
Ultimately the resolution will appear on council’s agenda for its upcoming meeting on Monday, October 26 Business Meeting for a council vote.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
