FINANCE DEPT. HOURS

Phone, email, and virtual appointment assistance hours

Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

In-person assistance hours

Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Address

6200 Southcenter Blvd.
Tukwila, WA 98188

CONTACT US

✉️ Finance@TukwilaWA.gov

☏ (206) 433-1835

Fax: (206) 433-1833

Budget 101 – Understanding the City of Tukwila Budget

Welcome

The City budget is more than numbers on a page. It is a plan for how the City provides services, supports public safety, and invests in the community. This information will help you better understand how the budget works. You will learn where public money comes from and how it is spent.

City spending should be responsible and match community needs. Community priorities help shape budget decisions. Planning for our future begins today.

Your participation plays an important role in the City’s budget process – complete this short survey.

Mayor McLeod will deliver his proposed 2027-2028 Budget to the City Council at the September 28, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting. To subscribe to agendas of upcoming City Council meetings, sign up here.

What is a City Budget?

To understand how the City budget works, it is helpful to understand what it is. The budget is a document that outlines how the City expects to receive and spend money over a period of time.

The budget is also:

A policy document that reflects community priorities
An operations guide for City departments
A planning tool for future projects and services
A communication tool that helps residents better understand City finances

The City is committed to:

Increasing awareness of City services
Providing transparent financial information
Encouraging community participation
Helping residents better understand the budget process

Where the Money Comes From

The City receives money from taxes, fees, grants, and other revenue sources. Taxes and fees come from the public – people who live, work, play, shop, and do business in Tukwila.

How the Money is Spent

City revenues support a wide range of services and programs that residents rely on every day.

The City spends money to provide services the public relies on every day, such as:

Police services and other public safety
Providing human services for basic needs
Keeping parks and streets clean
Improving sidewalks and transportation
Programs for children, youth, adults, and seniors
Permit and planning services
Water, sewer, and stormwater services

The City will continue working to support safe neighborhoods, reliable infrastructure, community spaces, environmental stewardship, and programs that contribute to the overall quality of life in Tukwila.

Total City budget
$153.8M

City funds have different purposes. Some revenues are legally restricted and can only pay for specific services or projects.

Citywide Spending by Fund Type

About half of all City spending is in the General Fund. Enterprise funds support utilities and other services primarily funded by user charges.

General Fund$78,611,612

$78.6M51.12%

Special Revenue$1,729,409

$1.7M1.12%

Capital Projects$25,773,974

$25.8M16.76%

Enterprise Funds$47,656,229

$47.7M30.99%

Fund restrictions matter: money collected for a utility or another legally restricted purpose generally cannot be redirected to an unrelated service.

General Fund Spending by Department

The General Fund supports core City operations. Bars show each department’s share of the department-level total currently displayed on this page.

Police$29,515,597 37.8%

Mayor’s Office$10,137,137 13.0%

Non-Departmental$6,491,393 8.3%

Community Development$5,854,564 7.5%

Public Works$5,334,529 6.8%

Street Maintenance$4,841,967 6.2%

Finance$4,666,108 6.0%

Recreation Department$4,367,833 5.6%

Parks Maintenance$2,518,366 3.2%

Municipal Court$2,504,217 3.2%

Fire$1,309,887 1.7%

City Council$456,810 0.6%

Types of City Funds

City governments use fund accounting to plan and track money. A fund can be thought of as a separate account used for a specific purpose. Some revenues are legally restricted and can only be used for certain services or projects.

Fund Type	What it Pays For
General Fund	Police, Parks, Planning, Administration
Special Revenue Fund	Lodging Tax, Streets
Capital Projects Fund	Roads, Sidewalks, Facilities, Parks, Trails & Open Space
Enterprise Funds	Water, Sewer, Stormwater, Golf Course

Examples of City Funds

General Fund – The City’s primary operating fund supporting services, for example, police, parks, planning, administration, and community services.

Special Revenue Funds – Used for revenues legally restricted for specific purposes, such as lodging tax or street-related revenues.

Capital Project Funds – Used for major infrastructure and facility projects including roads, sidewalks, parks, and public facilities.

Enterprise Funds – Support water, sewer, and surface water utilities and are primarily funded through user fees and charges.

Biennial Budgeting

The City of Tukwila uses a two-year budget, called a biennial budget. This means the City adopts one budget that covers two calendar years.

Biennial budgeting helps the City:

Plan for future needs
Improve long-term financial planning
Better coordinate large projects
Provide stability for City operations

How the Budget Process Works

The City must consider many things during the budget process. This includes financial conditions, service needs, and community priorities. Information from residents, community members, city staff, the Mayor, and the City Council guides decisions.

Community Input → Department Requests → Mayor’s Budget → Council Review → Public Hearings → Budget Adoption → Ongoing Monitoring

Not all City revenues can be used for any purpose. State laws, voter-approved taxes, and utility fees often require funds to be used for specific services.