In early August, we spent two amazing days in Wenatchee with over 80 city leaders from across the state learning about city budgeting and fiscal management. Our time together was filled with networking, discussions on building budgets, securing funding, using data, and so much more.

Don’t miss the top nine things we learned during the most recent AWC Municipal Budgeting & Fiscal Management Workshop:

1. We all come into budgeting with different levels of experience
   This year’s attendees ranged from newly hired clerks and treasurers to seasoned elected officials with over a decade of experience. Regardless of tenure, every voice matters. Budgeting is most effective when all stakeholders—staff and elected officials alike—contribute their insights.
2. Budgeting is a team sport
   Successful budgeting requires collaboration across departments and with the community. Engaging elected officials, department heads, service staff, and residents helps align priorities and build strategic plans. It may take more time upfront, but the long-term benefits are worth it. Curious about participatory budgeting? Check out this short video about it.
3. The State Auditor’s Office (SAO) is there to help
   While auditors play an important role ensuring that public funds are used appropriately, they also provide a number of helpful resources and guides to local governments. Want to learn about fraud prevention? There’s a guide for that. Need help with segregation of duties? SAO has a whole manual to help you. You can find the rest of SAO’s tools on their website.
4. Property tax is complex
   While property tax might appear to be a simple taxing system on the surface, it is actually surprisingly complex. Unlike other states, Washington has a budget-based tax system that caps property tax revenues for cities, not a rate-based system. For a quick five-minute explainer, Candice Bock, Government Relations Director, put together an easy-to-follow and easy-to-share overview you can watch here. For more detailed information, check out MRSC's Revenue Guide for Cities and Towns.
5. Engage your community around budgeting
   Helping residents understand the budget builds trust and transparency. Whether through town halls, social media, or creative outreach, informing your community should be part of your planning process. Need some inspiration? The City of Arlington, TX made a cooking video to explain their city’s budget using the ingredients of an apple pie.
6. Funding is out there – Take time to understand processes
   General revenues often fall short of covering all city needs. Proactively seeking grants and loans can make a huge difference. For example, between 2016 and 2025, the City of Ephrata (pop: 8,915) used $12.1 million in city funding to secure $62.5 million in outside grants and loans. These funds helped the city complete parks, public works, and general government projects across the community. Before applying for grant funding, make sure you are aware of the grant requirements and the potential time and resources they may take for compliance. It’s also a good time to explore your local revenue options such as voter-approved tools like levy lid lifts or transportation benefit districts.
7. Internal controls are key to protecting public funds
   Safeguarding city finances is a shared responsibility. Implementing strong internal controls and verifying transactions helps prevent misuse and ensures accountability. The SAO has several online trainings meant to help cities detect and deter fraud.
8. Balancing the budget takes coordination and compromise
   With tightening budgets, city departments are competing with even fewer resources. During the budgeting process, it’s important that city staff and elected officials work together to compromise on solutions and ensure the basic needs of projects and programs are met.
9. Data can help you make thoughtful decisions
   Good decisions are based on good data. Thankfully, AWC and many state agencies are sources of good data. Need to see how much another city is paying for a public works employee? Check out AWC’s Salary and Benefits Survey. Want to check on pet licensing fees in Granite Falls? AWC publishes the Tax and User Fee Survey with that data and much more. State agencies maintain datasets for city budgets, population numbers, shared cannabis revenues, and so much more. MRSC publishes Budget Suggestions each year with forecasts and revenue updates.
10. Bonus: Pass your budget by December 31
    In order to stay in compliance with state law and to keep the lights on and carry on with everyday city services, make sure you adopt your final budget by December 31.

If you couldn’t join us this year, be sure to put a hold on your calendar for August 2026. This annual workshop is not one to miss!