Biennial Budget 2025–2026

City of Vancouver Washington seal and logo positioned over the Vancouver Waterfront Grant Street Pier structure against a clear blue sky
Kayaker paddling on a scenic lake reflecting evergreen trees under a cloudy sky

City Manager Recommended 2025–2026 Budget

City of Vancouver, Washington

Natasha Ramras, Chief Financial Officer

Budget Prepared by

  • Shannon Olsen, Budget Manager
  • Udobong Obotette, Senior Budget Analyst
  • Pam Chinn, Budget Analyst
  • Marina Gonzales, Budget Analyst
  • Lori Watson, Budget Analyst
415 W. 6th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-487-8600
cityofvancouver.us

Budget Book Contents

Section TitlePage
Community Overview
About Vancouver7
City Council9
Organizational Chart10
Budget Process11
Executive Summary17
Strategic Planning Summary32
City Financial Policies61
Summary of Position Changes75
Financial Summary Reports95
Expenditures by Fund111
Expenditures by Department117
Revenue by Fund and Source124
Fund Balance153
Department Overviews & Reports156
Community and Economic Development158
General Services217
Legislative and General Government256
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services317
Public Safety347
Public Works390
Support Services514
General Governmental566
Long-term Debt Obligation579
Capital Planning586
Capital Projects by Equity Index587
Capital Projects by Function588
Six Year Capital Projects by Department589
Capital Decision Packages by Group595
Appendix644
Acronyms645
Glossary of Terms648
Blooming magnolia tree on the lawn in front of historic Vancouver Officers Row house Illuminated cable-stayed pedestrian bridge and waterfront promenade at dusk

How to Use this Document

This budget book is the City of Vancouver’s financial plan to be used by the Mayor and City Council as a guideline for meeting goals while providing the best service at the lowest cost to the people of Vancouver. The budget book is broken up into easy-to-read sections allowing any person to ready and understand the information.

Introduction

The introduction includes a community profile with demographics and information about the local area. This section also includes a list of City officials and an organizational chart.

Budget Message

This section includes the budget message providing an overview for 2025-2026 including any major national and local changes and upcoming issues being addressed. The City’s mission statement as well as citywide goals and objectives providing progress reports and performance metrics are also included in this section. The other half of this section details the City’s budget process and budget calendar.

Personnel Summary

This section includes the highlights of position changes during the biennium as well as the summary of changes from 2024-2025.

Financial Section

This section presents information on the 2024 current forecast and the 2025-2026 biennial budget and analysis for both budgeted revenues and expenditures.

Department Budgets

This section contains individual department overviews with departmental budget summaries of revenues and expenditures, a list of accomplishments of the previous year, strategic goals, and performance measures. The budget section is divided by fund, starting with the General Fund; the departments are in numerical order within each fund.

Capital Budget

The capital budget section outlines the major capital improvement projects and summary and itemized capital outlay information. It also includes the City’s six-year forecast.

Appendix

The Appendix section of the budget book includes Acronyms, a Glossary of Terms, and the Decision Package report, which details each request with revenue, expenditures, and Full-Time Employee requests.

About Vancouver

Grant Street Pier and waterfront pedestrian bridge over rocky Columbia River shoreline in Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across from Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Coast is less than 90 miles to the west. The Cascade Mountain Range rises on the east. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Hood are less than two hours away. The spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area lies 30 minutes to the east.

Vancouver combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities. Vancouver enjoys mild weather with less average annual rainfall than Boston, Washington, D.C. or Atlanta. The seasons are distinct. Summer temperatures are generally in the 70 to 80-degree Fahrenheit range. Winter nights rarely fall below 30 degrees. Our moderate climate results in lush forests and abundant foliage. Springtime explodes with blossoming trees and shrubs.

Learn more by visiting cityofvancouver.us/about-Vancouver.

Vancouver By The Numbers

A customer ordering food at a local Mexican restaurant counter in Vancouver with a friendly staff member

Population and people

202,600 residents1

Median age: 36.8

21% under age 18

17% 65 or older

50.2% female

49.8% male

14.7% identify as having a disability

7.7% are veterans

31% of high schoolers (Vancouver & Evergreen) identify as LGBTQ+2

Income and education

  • Median household income: $76,799
  • 49% of residents rent their home
  • 51% of residents own their home
  • 61% employment rate
  • 91.1% have a high school diploma
  • 31.2% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
  • 10% currently live below the federal poverty level

Language, race and ethnicity

  • 22% speak a language other than English in the home3
    • Asian and Pacific Island: 3.6%
    • Other: 0.7%
    • Other Indo-European: 6.3%
    • Spanish: 11.5%
  • 13.8% of residents were not born in the United States

Total population race & ethnicity breakdown

5.5% Asian

3.8% Black or African American

17.6% Hispanic, Latino/a/e and Non-White

0.3% Native American

0.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

0.6% Other

6.6% Two or more races

64.6% White

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2022 1-year estimates

1Washington Office of Financial Management Official Population Estimates

2Statewide Healthy Youth Survey conducted in 2021, sponsored by Health Care Authority, the Department of Health, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Liquor and Cannabis Board

32022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates: Language spoken at home

Vancouver City Hall building framed by autumn maple leaves

Vancouver City Council

View biographies and term information at cityofvancouver.us/citycouncil

Portrait of Anne McEnerny-Ogle

Anne McEnerny-Ogle

Mayor

Portrait of Bart Hansen

Bart Hansen

Mayor Pro Tem

Portrait of Ty Stober

Ty Stober

Councilmember

Portrait of Erik Paulsen

Erik Paulsen

Councilmember

Portrait of Sarah J. Fox

Sarah J. Fox

Councilmember

Portrait of Diana H. Perez

Diana H. Perez

Councilmember

Portrait of Kim D. Harless

Kim D. Harless

Councilmember

City of Vancouver Organizational Chart

Organizational chart of the City of Vancouver illustrating administrative hierarchy from Community Members to City Council, City Manager, and city departments
Accessible view
  • Vancouver Community Members
    • Mayor and City Council
      • City Manager
        • Deputy City Manager
          • Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
          • Economic Prosperity and Housing
          • Community Development
          • Public Works
          • Policy and Program
        • Police
        • Fire
        • Financial Management Services
        • Communications
        • Law
        • Deputy City Manager
          • Human Resources
          • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
          • Information Technology
          • General Services
City Manager Recommended 2025–2026 Budget · City of Vancouver, Washington