City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 09/29/2026 04:47 PM PDT
As we kick off fall, we’re entering one of the busiest seasons of the year at the City of Tacoma. In the months ahead, we’ll be shaping the City’s 2027–2028 budget, continuing important work across Tacoma, and finding new ways to connect with our community.
You’re Invited: Tacoma Reads with Author Daisy Hernández
October Office Hours and Locations
2027–2028 Budget: Planning for Tacoma’s Future
Responsible budgeting means making thoughtful choices about how we invest in our community and plan for the future. The City is gearing up for the 2027–2028 budget, and staff have been working hard throughout the year to develop a proposed budget that reflects our community’s priorities and the resources available to us. The City is required by State law to adopt a balanced budget, which means we have to carefully consider both the services residents rely on today and the investments we need to make for the future. This is important work, and the decisions we make over the next couple months will help shape Tacoma for the next two years and beyond.
The City Manager will present his proposed budget during the October 6 City Council Study Session. Throughout October, the City Council will review the proposal during additional Study Sessions, with presentations organized around Tacoma 2035 goal areas, including Community Safety, Housing & Homelessness, Jobs & Economy, and others. Council is expected to vote on the final budget in mid-November. Check out the schedule below:
I encourage you to follow along and tune in to Tuesday’s City Council Study Sessions on Tuesdays. Watch the meetings and find more details here. Have ideas or feedback about the budget? Reach out to me at mayor@tacoma.gov.
Tidy Up Tacoma
A clean Tacoma is something we all have a role in creating. Two Saturdays ago, more than 100 Tacomans spent the day picking up trash at 10 sites across the city. I had the pleasure of joining volunteers at Charlotte’s Blueberry Park.
Our Tidy-Up Tacoma team was out there too, including at cleanup sites downtown and near the Port that weren’t safe for volunteers. I’m grateful to the Tacomans and City staff who continue to roll up their sleeves and take pride in our community.
These efforts make a difference, but lasting success depends on all of us working together. If you are interested in helping out, the City’s Tidy-Up Tacoma program supports a number of ways to get involved, including Adopt-a-Spot, community cleanups, neighborhood pet waste stations, and more.
More Affordable Housing in South Tacoma, More Needed
Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Earlier this month, I had the honor of celebrating the opening of Viridian Grove in South Tacoma. These new apartments are an important investment in our community, with homes affordable to households earning 60% of the area median income. Importantly, most of the units are larger three- and four-bedroom homes designed for families and multigenerational households. The City was proud to contribute $2 million to the project, and I want to thank the staff across several City departments who helped make this investment possible, as well as Southport Financial Services for bringing this vital project to Tacoma.
There is still a lot of work ahead. Tacoma’s Affordable Housing Action Strategy set an ambitious goal in 2018 of building 6,000 affordable homes by the end of 2028. At the end of 2025, 1,964 units have been constructed.
We can see the continued need when we look around our neighborhoods and talk with residents across the city. Viridian Grove is a great example of what is possible when we make targeted investments in affordable housing, and why we need more projects like this.
Reminder: In-District Council Meeting at STAR Center on September 30
I have mentioned this in my past two newsletters, but as a reminder, Council this week will be held not Tuesday in Council Chambers, but Wednesday evening at the STAR Center.
Taking Council meetings into our neighborhoods gives residents another opportunity to connect directly with their local government and share what is happening in their communities.
Here are the event details:
Date: September 30, 2026
Time: 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Location: STAR Center: 3873 S 66th St, Tacoma, WA 98409
Transportation: The STAR Center has plenty of parking and is served by the Pierce Transit 3 and 53 bus lines.
Childcare details: Provided by Parks Tacoma at the Treetops Playground. Follow this link to learn more. Socks are required!
Who: Anyone who would like to attend and share their neighborhood concerns
How to provide public comment: There will be a sign-up sheet available. When it is your turn to provide comment, you will have 3 minutes. Begin by identifying yourself and the topic you are speaking to, and then the floor is yours. Remember that you must speak to topics over which the City Council has jurisdiction. If you’d like to learn more about how City Council meetings operate and a few additional rules, please follow this link.
You’re Invited: Tacoma Reads – Thursday, October 1
I’m looking forward to joining Tacoma Reads on October 1 for a conversation with author Daisy Hernández about her book Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth.
It’s a fabulous read, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to talk with Daisy about the book and the important ideas it raises. Even if you haven’t read or finished the book, I encourage you to join us Thursday evening for a robust discussion!
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | Program begins at 6 p.m.
Location: William W. Philip Hall, University of Washington Tacoma, 1921 Commerce St., Tacoma, WA 98402
Thank you to everyone who reached out to me this month. We received questions related to trash, homelessness, policing, infrastructure projects, utility rates, busing, immigration, the upcoming budget, and more. Please continue to share your thoughts, I am a better Mayor when I hear directly from you and can include your concerns in my policy work.
If you want to reach out about a concern, question, event, or anything else of interest, there are two ways to get in touch. The first is simply emailing me at mayor@tacoma.gov. The second is the City’s automated form to contact any of the Council Members, which is then sent directly to whoever you select.
October Office Hours and Locations
Every Wednesday, I hold office hours at different locations around Tacoma. These conversations are an important way for me to stay connected to what’s happening in our neighborhoods, hear directly from residents, and support the local businesses and gathering places that make Tacoma unique.
