Everett approves $613 million budget for 2026

EVERETT — The Everett City Council unanimously approved a $613 million budget for 2026 on Wednesday, pausing some pension contributions and using one-time funds to prevent staffing cuts.

No city employees will be laid off after budget cuts last year saw 31 people lose their jobs and others furloughed. The service cuts the city made for the 2025 budget, which included reductions of library hours and the elimination of the city’s park ranger program, will remain in place through 2026, as Everett continues to cut spending amid an ongoing structural deficit.

The city closed a looming $7.9 million budget gap in its 2026 budget mostly by pausing contributions to LEOFF 1 pensions — a pension available to police and firefighters hired before Oct. 1, 1977 — and through the injection of nearly $5 million in one-time COVID relief dollars into the general fund. Other reductions included cuts to maintenance and operation budgets, lower general fund contributions to street repair work and cuts to human needs grants.

The city’s general fund spending, which goes toward essential city services, will total $176.7 million in 2026, according to the budget. Everett’s complete budget, including non-general spending on services like utilities and transit, will be $612.7 million. General fund dollars are primarily raised via property, sales, and business and occupation taxes. Non-general government services are separate from the general fund and get their revenues via fees, grants, and utility, water and sewer rates.

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