Tacoma: City Manager Hyun Kim Details 'Roadmap to Recovery' Addressing the City's General Fund Deficit and Modernizing City Operations

~ Tacoma City Manager Hyun Kim has presented a comprehensive Roadmap to Recovery to the City Council in response to a projected $27 million structural deficit in the General Fund. The plan aims to bring expense growth in line with revenue growth while modernizing how essential public services are delivered.

Guided by the strategic policy vision of the City Council, the Roadmap to Recovery focuses on measured organizational changes, proactive fiscal discipline, and strict financial transparency. According to City Manager Kim, this plan is crucial for safeguarding the city's long-term sustainability and responsible use of public resources.

The goal of the Roadmap to Recovery is to streamline operations and ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential public services. By addressing the deficit now, the city hopes to avoid across-the-board spending cuts and widespread layoffs.

To close the gap in the General Fund, the Roadmap to Recovery centers on rigorous, data-driven strategies. This includes strict cost containment and financial discipline through a hiring freeze for non-essential positions. This measure is expected to save an estimated $3-5 million in 2026 and aligns with proactive fiscal policies that have earned Tacoma an AA+ bond rating.

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Additionally, all city departments have been directed by City Manager Kim to conduct comprehensive evaluations of their operations. This will identify internal efficiencies and administrative savings before any decisions are made that could impact essential public services. The assessment will also identify tasks that can be stopped to prevent burnout among existing staff.

Recognizing that payroll and benefits are significant budget drivers, Tacoma is also initiating collaborative discussions with labor partners to assess systemic costs such as public safety overtime scheduling and long-term pension obligations.

As part of the Roadmap to Recovery's organizational changes, a deputy city manager position will be eliminated. Environmental Services and Public Works will also be consolidated into a single department led by Director Ramiro Chavez. This phased leadership integration will begin immediately and take full effect on January 1, 2027. The move aims to streamline operations and modernize service delivery by centralizing engineering under City Engineer Cory Newton, combining similar workgroups, and eliminating redundant administrative structures.

It is important to note that the City is not targeting filled operational, engineering, or frontline maintenance roles for elimination. The focus is on improving efficiency and modernizing service delivery.

Community members are invited to listen to the City of Tacoma's new podcast series, Talking Tacoma, for a comprehensive and transparent discussion on the data, strategy, and financial realities behind the Roadmap to Recovery. More information can also be found at tacoma.gov/roadmaptorecovery.

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