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Biennial Budget
2025-2026 Biennial Budget
Mayor Thomas, the City Council, and staff started work on the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget in January 2024 by reviewing the City's Imagine Monroe Vision Statement, strategic priorities and community input. The 2025-2029 Strategic Priorities and five-year Strategic Plan were further refined at a City Council workshop on April 30, 2024.
The draft 2025-2029 Strategic Priorities are built around Imagine Monroe and identify investments in public safety, financial sustainability, city parks, neighborhoods, facilities, and infrastructure. Specific goals include investing in maintaining and modernizing inclusive park facilities and infrastructure; fostering a vibrant local economy that promotes locally owned businesses; promoting cultural activities and art; modernizing city operations through technology and innovation; and enhancing access to human services for Monroe residents.
While many of the actions called for in the draft 2025-2029 Strategic Priorities can be accomplished with existing city resources, some future actions require the City Council and community to support improvements to city services and investments in capital projects identified in the plan. Proposition 1, on the November 5, ballot will support enhanced parks maintenance and public safety services.
The Budget identifies the revenues and expenditures needed to provide city services and achieve the goals identified in the draft 2025-2029 strategic priorities. The budget is both a financial plan and a policy document, making it one of the most important documents prepared by the city. In the coming months, the City Council will consider the Mayor’s recommended budget and how it achieves the Council and community’s short- and long-term goals. The City Council is required by state law to adopt a balance budget by December 31, 2024.
At its Nov. 19, 2024 meeting, the City Council approved Ordinance 009/2024, adopting the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. Final documents will be posted to the Budget and Finance Reports webpage.
City of Monroe utility rate changes effective Jan. 1, 2026
At its November 18 meeting, Monroe City Council approved new water rates and a new tax on the gross income of stormwater utility providers. Monroe’s 7.2% water rate adjustment is in response to the City of Everett increasing its water rates earlier this year. Monroe’s drinking water supply comes from Everett. The new 10% stormwater utility tax will support core services provided by the utility. Monroe’s utility rates cover all costs associated with providing water, sewer, and stormwater services to Monroe homes and businesses.
These adjustments are in addition to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increases approved in Monroe’s 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. The adjustments will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The base rate for all utilities is going up by an average of $7 per month for a single-family residential household (City of Monroe utility customer). Customers who use more water may see a higher total increase based on their usage. Low-income senior citizens and low-income disabled residents may be able to receive discounts for qualifying utility accounts.
Please read the Utility Rate Sheet (English) (Spanish) for details and contact our Utility Billing Division should you have questions about your utility bill.