As city staff prepared the 2025-26 budget in 2024, the city held a series of public hearings and information sessions. The city hosted three interactive budget information sessions, where community members got a detailed view of the budget and learned all the ways they can provide feedback to the City Council. If you missed those sessions, a video of the Sept. 23 meeting is available below.
- Crossroads Community Center, Monday, Sept. 23
- North Bellevue Community Center, Tuesday, Sept. 24
- South Bellevue Community Center, Thursday, Sept. 26
Public Hearings
The City Council held three public hearings to provide stakeholders multiple opportunities to officially comment on the operating and capital budgets. One public hearing is held prior to the submission of the preliminary budget to council and offer residents and other stakeholders the opportunity to let the council know what issues are important to them.
The second and final public hearings are held after the preliminary budget is transmitted to the council and before the council adopts the budget. This provides interested parties with an opportunity to address new budget proposals and comment on budget issues.
- First Public Hearing: July 9, 2024
- Second Public Hearing: Sept. 24, 2024
- Third Public Hearing: Nov. 12, 2024
Public Comment
The public is also welcome to speak during public comment periods at all regular council meetings. The public is also welcome to provide written comment to the council by emailing council@bellevuewa.gov, subject line “Written Communications,” by 3 p.m. the day of each council meeting. Council agendas are posted on council meetings in advance of the meetings.
Learn more about council meetings logistics and protocols at Council Agendas and Minutes.
Contact Councilmembers
Comments to the full City Council may be made by email to council@bellevuewa.gov or by leaving a voicemail with the Council Office at 425-452-7810.
Business Survey
The city conducts a business survey about Bellevue's key metrics, taxation and attitudes about operating, owning or starting a business. The survey has been conducted every other year since 2015. The survey is usually taken in the fall.
Learn more at Business Surveys.
Budget Survey
In preparation for the new budget, the city conducts a budget survey each biennium. The survey is designed to provide a statistically valid tool to enhance the city’s knowledge of residents’ perceptions about the city and to better understand community priorities and expectations regarding city services. This survey has been conducted every other year since 1998. The most recent survey can be accessed through the link below.
Learn more at Budget Surveys.
Performance Survey
The Performance Survey is designed to gauge how the city meets the needs of its residents. The survey asks about: overall quality of life, overall quality of city services, comparability to other communities, direction the city is headed, and the value of services for tax dollars paid. The methodology for the Performance Survey is similar to that of the Budget Survey.
Learn more at Performance Surveys.
Boards and Commissions
Four city boards and commissions provide input on the budget process: ·
- Transportation Commission - provides funding recommendations on the Capital Investment Program (CIP) budget.
- Environmental Services Commission - provides funding recommendations on both the operating and CIP Utilities budgets as well as rate recommendations.
- Parks & Community Services Board - provides funding recommendations on the CIP budget.
- Human Services Commission - provides funding recommendations on allocations to human services agencies.
Contact Finance & Asset Management
The Finance & Asset Management Department will give presentations about the budget upon request to any group and responds to any communication received regarding the budget process. Please contact us by phone, 425-452-5281, or email fam@bellevuewa.gov